UAM Route Planning Course
Online course of 300 hours in UAM route planning. 6 modules covering urban airspace structure, 3D and 4D trajectory algorithms, deconfliction and contingencies under the U-space Regulation (EU) 2021/664, with Python and NetworkX, BlueSky, QGIS and MATLAB UAV Toolbox, with an assigned technical tutor.
UAM Route Planning Course — 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: £537 (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
Describe the operational architecture of urban air mobility.
Model urban airspace with its restrictions and zones.
Implement 3D and 4D trajectory planning algorithms.
Apply strategic and tactical deconfliction techniques.
Evaluate routes against energy, noise and risk criteria.
Design contingency plans for urban operations.
Interpret the European U-space regulatory framework.
Who it's for
- Airspace planning engineers.
- UAM operations analysts.
- Developers of routing and path-planning algorithms.
- U-space service specialists.
- Urban air mobility consultants.
- Vertiport network planners.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter urban air mobility.
What you'll work with
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 (regulatory framework for U-space)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for UAS operation)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (UAS and third-country UAS operators)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/665 (ATM/ANS requirements in U-space airspace)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/666 (crewed aviation operating in U-space airspace)
- EASA PTS-VPT-DSN (prototype technical specifications for vertiport design)
- FAA Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D (heliport design)
- Royal Decree 1036/2017 (Spanish civil RPAS regulation)
- Python with NetworkX
- BlueSky ATM Simulator
- QGIS
- MATLAB UAV Toolbox
- AnyLogic
6 modules
1.1Use cases: air taxi, cargo and medical services1.2UAM operational maturity phases1.3Stakeholders: operators, USSPs and ATS providers1.4SESAR U-space concept1.5FAA UAM concept of operations1.6Vertiports and infrastructure networks1.7eVTOL aircraft performance and endurance1.8Energy and recharging constraints1.9Travel demand and business models1.10Case study: analysis of a European UAM pilot
2.1Airspace classes and UAS geographical zones2.2U-space airspace and mandatory services2.3Air corridors and flow tubes2.4Separation and safety minima2.5Obstacle restrictions and limitation surfaces2.6Sensitive areas: hospitals, airports and populated areas2.7Aeronautical data and 3D urban mapping2.8Urban meteorology and wind effects between buildings2.9Integration with traditional crewed traffic2.10Workshop: designing a corridor network over a city
3.1Space representation: grids, graphs and voxels3.2A* and Dijkstra search on 3D graphs3.3RRT and RRT* sampling-based planners3.4Trajectory optimisation with dynamic constraints3.54D trajectories and time windows3.6Cost functions: energy, noise and risk3.7Multi-objective planning and Pareto fronts3.8Dynamic replanning in contingencies3.9Ground risk assessment for overflight3.10Practical exercise: A* planner with an urban map in Python
4.1Strategic pre-flight planning4.2Tactical in-flight deconfliction4.3Vertiport capacity management4.4Sequencing of arrivals and departures4.5Slot allocation and fairness between operators4.6Detect and avoid and situational awareness4.7Data exchange between USSPs4.8Agent-based traffic simulation4.9Efficiency, delay and safety metrics4.10Lab: deconfliction simulation with multiple operators
5.1Contingency plans and alternative routes5.2Emergency landing sites5.3Energy management and battery reserves5.4Impact of weather on availability5.5SORA risk analysis applied to routes5.6Noise indicators and social acceptance5.7Validation with Monte Carlo simulations5.8Integration with air navigation systems5.9Lessons from demonstrators in Europe and the US5.10Case study: evaluation of airport-to-city-centre air taxi routes
6.1Definition of the urban area and use cases6.2Modelling of airspace and obstacles6.3Location of vertiports and corridors6.4Implementation of the routing algorithm6.5Simulation of traffic scenarios6.6Evaluation of performance metrics6.7Contingency and robustness analysis6.8Operational recommendations6.9Report 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is Python with NetworkX, BlueSky ATM Simulator, QGIS, MATLAB UAV Toolbox and AnyLogic, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for simulating urban corridor networks, evaluating routes with ground risk models and vertiport capacity studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 (U-space), Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/665, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/666, EASA Prototype Technical Specifications for Vertiports (PTS-VPT-DSN), FAA Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D, Royal Decree 1036/2017.
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 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 Python with NetworkX, BlueSky ATM Simulator, QGIS, MATLAB UAV Toolbox and AnyLogic, 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 able to run the programme 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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