Course on Composite Materials Standards for Helicopters
Online 300 h course on composite materials standards for helicopters. 6 modules covering CS-29 (EASA, large rotorcraft), FAA AC 20-107B (composite structures) and Abaqus. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course on Composite Materials Standards for Helicopters — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £455 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs before enrolling.
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
Justify the use of composites in rotary-wing structures.
Interpret the qualification standards for composite materials.
Control manufacturing processes and their variability.
Plan verification through testing and the test pyramid.
Apply non-destructive inspection techniques.
Assess damage tolerance and in-service repairs.
Prepare a certification plan for a composite component.
Who it's for
- Composite materials engineer who wishes to specialise in composite materials standards for helicopters.
- Helicopter structures engineer who wishes to specialise in composite materials standards for helicopters.
- Structural certification engineer who wishes to specialise in composite materials standards for helicopters.
- Non-destructive inspection technician who wishes to specialise in composite materials standards for helicopters.
- Manufacturing process engineer who wishes to specialise in composite materials standards for helicopters.
- Structural repair engineer who wishes to specialise in composite materials standards for helicopters.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter the aerospace industry.
What you'll work with
- CS-29 (EASA, large rotorcraft)
- FAA AC 20-107B (composite structures)
- AMC 20-29 (composite structures)
- CMH-17 (composite materials handbook)
- ASTM D3039 (tensile properties of composites)
- ASTM D7136 (impact damage resistance)
- EN 9100 (aerospace quality systems)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Advantages over metal in rotor and fuselage1.2Main and tail rotor blades1.3Rotor hub and flexible elements1.4Panels, fairings and floors1.5Masts and load-transfer elements1.6Limitations: repairability, cost and moisture1.7Behaviour under fatigue and impact1.8Differences from fixed-wing structures1.9Sector vocabulary and acronyms1.10Exercise: justify the choice of material for each part
2.1Prepreg and fibre specifications2.2Resin and adhesive specifications2.3Core materials: honeycomb and foam2.4Obtaining admissible design data2.5Shared databases and their use2.6Material and supplier qualification2.7Equivalence and second sourcing2.8Batch control, shelf life and storage2.9Material traceability to the part2.10Practice: a material qualification plan
3.1Manual and automated layup3.2Autoclave and out-of-autoclave curing3.3Infusion and resin transfer moulding3.4Cycle control: temperature, pressure and vacuum3.5Structural bonding and surface preparation3.6Typical defects: porosity, delamination and wrinkles3.7Clean rooms, humidity and environmental conditions3.8Process and operator qualification3.9Process records and cure witness coupons3.10Practice: review of a cure record
4.1Test pyramid applied to composites4.2Coupon and characterisation testing4.3Effect of moisture and temperature4.4Impact damage and residual strength4.5Damage tolerance and detectable size4.6Non-destructive testing: ultrasonics and thermography4.7Bond inspection and its reliability4.8Blade and rotor component testing4.9Acceptance and rejection criteria4.10Practice: an inspection plan for a blade
5.1Scheduled inspections and typical findings5.2Damage classification and admissible limits5.3Bonded patch and laminate repairs5.4Repair approval and design data5.5Repair personnel qualification5.6Lightning protection in composite structures5.7Erosion, galvanic corrosion and protection5.8Material obsolescence and requalification5.9End of life and waste management5.10Practice: a repair record file
6.1Choice of composite component6.2Justified material specification6.3Process definition and its controls6.4Verification test plan6.5Damage tolerance analysis6.6In-service inspection plan6.7Scheme of admissible repairs6.8Documentation management and traceability6.9Technical report on the component6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Training is 100 % online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There is no fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Abaqus, ANSYS Composite PrepPost, CATIA Composites Design, FiberSIM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for mechanical testing of composite coupons, ultrasonic non-destructive inspection and assessment of structural repairs. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Justify the use of composites in rotary-wing structures.
Interpret the qualification standards for composite materials.
Control manufacturing processes and their variability.
Plan verification through testing and the test pyramid.
Apply non-destructive inspection techniques.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Abaqus, ANSYS Composite PrepPost, CATIA Composites Design and FiberSIM. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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