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CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Wind shear risk course

Online course of 300 hours in wind shear hazards. 6 modules covering the physics of wind shear, ground-based detection, airborne detection, operational procedures and airport risk management, applying ICAO Annex 3, ICAO Doc 9817 and FAA AC 00-54, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the physical mechanisms that generate wind shear.

02

Calculate hazard indicators such as the F-factor.

03

Compare ground-based and airborne detection systems.

04

Apply avoidance procedures and escape manoeuvres.

05

Assess wind shear risk within the airport SMS.

06

Analyse historical accidents caused by wind shear.

07

Propose mitigation measures for a specific airport.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Aeronautical meteorologists.
  • Aviation safety technicians.
  • Flight simulator instructors.
  • Avionics systems engineers.
  • Airport operations technicians.
  • Flight data analysts.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to join meteorological services.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ICAO Annex 3 (meteorological service for international air navigation)
  • ICAO Doc 9817 (Manual on Low-level Wind Shear)
  • FAA AC 00-54 (Pilot Windshear Guide)
  • FAA TSO-C117a (airborne windshear warning and escape guidance systems)
  • RTCA DO-220 (MOPS for airborne weather radar with forward-looking windshear detection)
  • ICAO Doc 8896 (Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice)
  • ICAO Annex 6 (operation of aircraft)
  • MATLAB
  • Python with MetPy
  • WRF
  • X-Plane
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Horizontal and vertical wind shear
  2. 1.2Effects on lift and indicated airspeed
  3. 1.3Total energy and aircraft flight path
  4. 1.4Wind shear hazard F-factor
  5. 1.5Wet and dry microbursts
  6. 1.6Thunderstorm gust fronts
  7. 1.7Temperature inversions and low-level jets
  8. 1.8Orographic wind shear
  9. 1.9Effects of buildings and obstacles
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: calculating the F-factor in a microburst
  1. 2.1LLWAS anemometer system
  2. 2.2Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR)
  3. 2.3Doppler LIDAR at airports
  4. 2.4Microburst detection algorithms
  5. 2.5Wind profilers and SODAR
  6. 2.6Integrating sensors into an alerting system
  7. 2.7Dissemination of alerts to ATC and crews
  8. 2.8The Hong Kong alerting system
  9. 2.9Limitations of ground-based systems
  10. 2.10Lab: interpreting LIDAR scans
  1. 3.1Reactive wind shear warning systems
  2. 3.2Predictive wind shear (PWS) weather radar
  3. 3.3TSO-C117a and RTCA DO-220 requirements
  4. 3.4Cockpit alert prioritisation
  5. 3.5Integration with GPWS and TAWS
  6. 3.6Energy and trend indications
  7. 3.7Escape guidance on the flight director
  8. 3.8Limitations of airborne detection
  9. 3.9Maintenance of alerting systems
  10. 3.10Case study: predictive alert on approach
  1. 4.1Avoidance as the first line of defence
  2. 4.2Risk assessment before take-off
  3. 4.3Take-off and approach techniques
  4. 4.4Wind shear escape manoeuvre
  5. 4.5Thrust and attitude management
  6. 4.6Communication with air traffic control
  7. 4.7Information in ATIS and METAR
  8. 4.8Flight simulator training
  9. 4.9Reporting wind shear encounters
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: approach briefing with wind shear risk
  1. 5.1Wind shear climatology of an airport
  2. 5.2Hazard assessment within the SMS
  3. 5.3Selection of detection systems
  4. 5.4Runway change and closure criteria
  5. 5.5Coordination between meteorology, ATC and operators
  6. 5.6Indicators of reported encounters
  7. 5.7Historical accidents and lessons learned
  8. 5.8Building-induced wind shear
  9. 5.9Dissemination of alerts to the end user
  10. 5.10Case study: the Delta 191 accident
  1. 6.1Selection of the study airport
  2. 6.2Local climatological analysis
  3. 6.3Local sources of wind shear
  4. 6.4Assessment of existing systems
  5. 6.5Proposal for a detection system
  6. 6.6Alerting and dissemination procedures
  7. 6.7Crew training plan
  8. 6.8Residual risk assessment
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 it with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB, Python with MetPy, WRF and X-Plane, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: analysing a microburst encounter from flight data, interpreting Doppler LIDAR data and assessing wind shear risk at an airport. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.

Standards covered: ICAO Annex 3, ICAO Doc 9817, FAA AC 00-54, FAA TSO-C117a, RTCA DO-220, ICAO Doc 8896, ICAO Annex 6.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ICAO Annex 3, ICAO Doc 9817 and FAA AC 00-54 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB, Python with MetPy, WRF and X-Plane, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a wind shear risk assessment for a study airport, with a detection system proposal, alerting procedures, a crew training plan and a residual risk evaluation, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Airport and climatology
Select a study airport and analyse its local wind shear climatology and sources.
Existing systems assessment
Evaluate the detection systems currently in place.
Detection system proposal
Propose a detection system with alerting and dissemination procedures.
Training and residual risk
Design a crew training plan and assess the residual risk.
Final project
Present the complete wind shear risk study, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Aeronautical meteorologistAviation safety technicianFlight simulator instructorAvionics systems engineerAirport operations technicianFlight data analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • 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.

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FAQ

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 MATLAB, Python with MetPy, WRF and X-Plane, 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 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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