Course on non-destructive inspections of aircraft
Online course of 300 hours in non-destructive inspection of aircraft. 6 modules covering NDT in aerospace, visual and penetrant inspection, eddy current, ultrasonic inspection, and radiography and advanced techniques under EN 4179, NAS 410 and ISO 9712, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on non-destructive inspections of aircraft — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has one of the world's most established aerospace sectors, anchored by clusters in Bristol, Filton, Derby, Hampshire and Scotland's Glasgow corridor. Major manufacturers and suppliers such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus UK and GKN Aerospace drive demand for engineers in design, propulsion, structures and systems integration. Urban air mobility, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and commercial drones are emerging alongside, supported by government programmes and test corridors. Space engineering is growing through launch and satellite activity around the UK spaceports and Harwell. Graduates with aerospace expertise find roles across manufacturing, certification and research.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £664 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which professional bodies in the UK recognise aerospace engineering qualifications, and does SEIUM's qualification give me chartered status?
In the UK, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the main professional body for aerospace engineers and can award Chartered Engineer status through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and are not accredited by the Engineering Council or RAeS, so they do not confer chartered status on their own. Recognition is decided by employers and the relevant body, so check directly with RAeS whether your study and experience will count towards registration.
Will a private online aerospace qualification help me find work with UK aerospace or drone employers?
UK aerospace, drone and space employers, including many working on civil aviation, defence and space projects, generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, portfolio work and experience. A private qualification may support your application, but its value depends on each employer's own assessment. It is worth asking prospective employers how they view such qualifications before you enrol.
Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in the UK, and what language level is needed?
Yes, programmes are delivered fully online, so you can study from home without a student visa, wherever you are based. Workload varies by programme length, and you will have an assigned technical tutor for support. Teaching is in English, so you should be comfortable reading and writing technical English. Check the programme schedule and time commitment against your working hours 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
Know the typical defects in metallic and composite structures.
Apply visual inspection, penetrants and magnetic particles.
Use eddy current to detect cracks and corrosion.
Inspect composite materials using ultrasound.
Know advanced techniques such as tomography and thermography.
Write inspection procedures with acceptance criteria.
Understand the qualification requirements for NDT personnel.
Who it's for
- NDT Level 2 inspectors
- NDT Level 3 engineers
- Structural maintenance technicians
- Structural integrity engineers
- Part-145 quality managers
- Composite manufacturing engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter aircraft maintenance
What you'll work with
- EN 4179 (qualification and approval of NDT personnel in aerospace)
- NAS 410 (NDT personnel certification and qualification)
- ISO 9712 (qualification and certification of NDT personnel)
- ASTM E1417 (liquid penetrant testing)
- ASTM E1444 (magnetic particle testing)
- ASTM E1742 (radiographic examination)
- ATA Spec 105 (guidelines for NDT training and qualification)
- Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 (Part-145) (maintenance organisation approvals)
- CIVA (Extende)
- Evident OmniScan
- Zetec UltraVision
- VGSTUDIO MAX
6 modules
1.1Role of NDT in airworthiness1.2Typical defects in aircraft structures1.3Fatigue cracks and corrosion1.4Damage in composite materials1.5Damage tolerance and critical size1.6Probability of detection (POD)1.7Personnel qualification under EN 41791.8Manufacturer's NDT manual1.9Detection of impact damage in composites1.10Practical exercise: technique selection by defect type
2.1General and detailed visual inspection2.2Videoscopy and engine borescope inspection2.3Principle of liquid penetrants2.4Sensitivities and removal methods2.5Process under ASTM E14172.6Magnetic particles under ASTM E14442.7Lighting and viewing conditions2.8Limitations and false indications2.9Inspection of painted structures2.10Workshop: penetrant procedure on a fitting
3.1Electromagnetic principles of inspection3.2Surface and bolt-hole probes3.3Crack detection in rivet holes3.4Conductivity measurement and heat damage3.5Corrosion in multilayer structures3.6Eddy current arrays3.7Reference blocks and calibration3.8Interpretation of the impedance plane3.9Inspection of engine discs and blades3.10Lab: crack detection in fastener holes
4.1Wave propagation and modes4.2Contact and immersion probes4.3Phased array (PAUT)4.4Inspection of composites and delaminations4.5Air-coupled ultrasound4.6TOFD and thickness measurement4.7Inspection of bonded joints4.8DAC curves and calibration4.9Inspection of honeycomb cores4.10Case study: C-scan map of a CFRP panel
5.1Conventional and digital radiography5.2Industrial computed tomography5.3Active pulsed thermography5.4Shearography on composite panels5.5Acoustic emission in structural testing5.6Structural health monitoring (SHM)5.7Inspection data management5.8Inspection programmes under MSG-35.9Recording inspections in the maintenance system5.10Case study: inspection plan for a wing spar
6.1Definition of the component and expected defects6.2Selection of techniques6.3Writing the procedure6.4Calibration and reference blocks6.5Acceptance criteria6.6Analysis of results6.7Inspection report6.8Validation of the technique with artificial defects6.9Report 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 CIVA (Extende), Evident OmniScan, Zetec UltraVision and VGSTUDIO MAX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: eddy current inspection of fastener holes, ultrasonic inspection of composite laminates and writing inspection procedures. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 4179, NAS 410, ISO 9712, ASTM E1417, ASTM E1444, ASTM E1742, ATA Spec 105, Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 (Part-145).
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 CIVA (Extende), Evident OmniScan, Zetec UltraVision and VGSTUDIO MAX, 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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