eVTOL Conceptual Design Course
Online course of 300 hours in eVTOL conceptual design. 6 modules covering mission and design requirements, initial sizing, aerodynamics and propulsors, systems and structure, and evaluation and optimisation under EASA SC-VTOL-01, MOC SC-VTOL and SAE ARP4754A, with an assigned technical tutor.
eVTOL Conceptual Design Course — studying from New Zealand
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,470 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Questions from New Zealand
Can I pay in New Zealand dollars?
Yes. Fees on this site are shown in NZD, and instalment plans and employer sponsorship are available.
Do I get support during my studies?
Yes. Each learner is assigned a dedicated technical tutor, and programmes include a final project built around a practical problem.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Define mission requirements for an eVTOL.
Size an eVTOL aircraft using constraint diagrams.
Analyse the aerodynamics of rotors and wings in VTOL configurations.
Define the systems and structural architecture.
Estimate masses, centre of gravity and performance.
Apply multidisciplinary optimisation techniques.
Evaluate design alternatives using technical and economic criteria.
Who it's for
- Conceptual design engineers
- Aircraft preliminary design engineers
- Performance engineers
- Multidisciplinary optimisation engineers
- Configuration engineers
- Electric aircraft researchers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter urban air mobility
What you'll work with
- EASA SC-VTOL-01 (special condition for VTOL aircraft)
- MOC SC-VTOL (EASA) (means of compliance with the VTOL special condition)
- SAE ARP4754A (development of civil aircraft and systems)
- RTCA DO-311A (minimum performance standards for rechargeable lithium battery systems)
- EASA PTS-VPT-DSN (prototype technical specifications for vertiport design)
- CS-27 (EASA) (small rotorcraft)
- ISO 2533 (standard atmosphere)
- OpenVSP
- NASA NDARC
- OpenMDAO
- XFLR5
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Definition of the reference mission1.2Range, speed and payload requirements1.3Noise and footprint requirements1.4Vertiport constraints1.5Safety and redundancy requirements1.6Configuration selection1.7Benchmark of existing eVTOLs1.8High-level requirements tree1.9Design certification requirements1.10Practical exercise: requirements sheet for an air taxi
2.1Estimation of maximum take-off mass2.2Battery mass fractions2.3Disc loading and hover power2.4Wing loading and cruise2.5Constraint diagrams2.6Electric range equation2.7Energy and contingency reserves2.8Sizing iteration2.9Optimum cruise speed2.10Workshop: sizing a lift plus cruise aircraft
3.1Selection of rotors and propellers3.2Rotor-wing aerodynamic interaction3.3Wing and fuselage drag polar3.4Drag of stopped rotors3.5Momentum theory models3.6Rotor noise and tip speed3.7Propulsor placement3.8Transition between vertical and horizontal flight3.9Propulsor installation losses3.10Lab: VSPAERO analysis of an eVTOL
4.1Electric propulsion architecture4.2Battery system and thermal management4.3Composite structure4.4Landing gear4.5Flight control system4.6Component mass estimation4.7Centre of gravity and envelope4.8Crashworthiness4.9Electrical distribution system4.10Case study: mass and centre of gravity balance
5.1Sensitivity analysis5.2Multidisciplinary design optimisation5.3Direct operating cost5.4Life cycle assessment5.5Community noise assessment5.6Comparison of alternatives5.7Technology risks and TRL5.8Conceptual design review5.9Take-off noise estimation5.10Practical exercise: optimisation with OpenMDAO
6.1Mission and requirements6.2Justification of the selected configuration6.3Sizing and constraint diagram6.4Aerodynamic analysis of the configuration6.5Systems architecture6.6Mass and performance estimation6.7Economic and environmental assessment6.8Technology risk analysis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenVSP, NASA NDARC, OpenMDAO, XFLR5 and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: sizing of eVTOL configurations, low-fidelity aerodynamic analysis and range-payload trade-off studies. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: EASA SC-VTOL-01, MOC SC-VTOL (EASA), SAE ARP4754A, RTCA DO-311A, EASA PTS-VPT-DSN, CS-27 (EASA), ISO 2533.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with OpenVSP, NASA NDARC, OpenMDAO, XFLR5 and MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you need an internet connection, a computer capable of running the programme's software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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