Course on runway and taxiway design
Online course of 300 hours in runway and taxiway design. 6 modules covering runway geometry, taxiways and aprons, airport pavements, markings and lighting and obstacles and runway safety, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on runway and taxiway design — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a long-standing aerospace base, anchored by the Western Cape cluster around Cape Town and the Gauteng aerospace corridor near Johannesburg. Companies such as Denel Aerospace Systems, Aerosud and Airbus-linked suppliers in the Western Cape draw on local engineering talent. The South African Civil Aviation Authority oversees airworthiness and drone regulation, while the South African National Space Agency coordinates national space activity. Demand for skills in aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems and satellite engineering continues to grow across both regions.
Fees for South Africa: R 14 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the South African Council for Aeronautical and Engineering Professions or ECSA?
SEIUM is a private online institute and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. In South Africa, professional registration is handled by bodies such as ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) and SACAP for built environment roles, and aviation licensing by the SACAA. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Would this qualification help me get work with aerospace or drone employers in South Africa?
Employers in South Africa's aerospace and drone sector, such as aircraft maintenance organisations, defence contractors and drone operators, usually weigh experience, licensing and university credentials heavily. A private online qualification can support your CV and show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee hiring or a particular role. Ask prospective employers whether they value the programme before you commit.
Can I manage the workload while working full time, and do I need to be fluent in English?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need solid working English. Study is fully remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan your weekly hours realistically, and ask whether employer sponsorship or instalment payment could help with fees.
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
Determine runway dimensions from the critical aircraft.
Calculate declared distances and corrected lengths.
Design taxiway and apron systems in accordance with Annex 14.
Design airport pavements using the ACR and PCR method.
Plan the markings and lighting of the movement area.
Assess limitation surfaces and deviations through aeronautical studies.
Prepare the preliminary design of a runway and its taxiway system.
Who it's for
- Airport design engineers.
- Pavement designers.
- Aerodrome certification technicians.
- Airfield lighting engineers.
- Movement area inspectors.
- Airport infrastructure consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join airport operators.
What you'll work with
- Annex 14 to the Chicago Convention, Volume I. Aerodrome Design and Operations (ICAO aerodrome design standards)
- ICAO Doc 9157 Aerodrome Design Manual (ICAO guidance on aerodrome design)
- EASA CS-ADR-DSN Certification Specifications for Aerodrome Design (EASA aerodrome design specifications)
- FAA AC 150/5300-13B Airport Design (FAA airport geometric design standards)
- FAA AC 150/5320-6G Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation (FAA pavement design and evaluation)
- ICAO Doc 9981 PANS-Aerodromes (procedures for aerodrome operations)
- Regulation (EU) 139/2014 on aerodrome requirements (EU aerodrome certification and operation)
- FAARFIELD
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Transoft AeroTURN
- COMFAA
6 modules
1.1Reference code number and code letter1.2Runway length and corrections for altitude and temperature1.3Declared distances TORA, TODA, ASDA and LDA1.4Runway width and shoulders1.5Longitudinal and transverse slopes1.6Runway strips and graded area1.7Stopways and clearways1.8Runway end safety areas (RESA)1.9Displaced thresholds and their effect1.10Practical: calculating declared distances
2.1Taxiway width and shoulders2.2Minimum runway-taxiway separations2.3Taxiway curves and widening2.4Rapid exit taxiways2.5Holding points and stop bars2.6Aircraft stand taxilanes2.7Apron design and clearances2.8Hot spots and runway incursion prevention2.9Taxiing of code letter F aircraft2.10Workshop: layout of a rapid exit taxiway
3.1Flexible and rigid pavements3.2ACR and PCR reporting method3.3Design traffic and fleet mix3.4Design with FAARFIELD3.5Pavement materials and layers3.6Joints and concrete slabs3.7Friction and surface texture3.8Grooving and surface drainage3.9Structural evaluation with HWD deflectometer3.10Lab: design of a flexible pavement
4.1Runway markings4.2Taxiway and apron markings4.3Edge, centreline and touchdown zone lights4.4Approach lighting systems4.5PAPI and visual approach angle4.6Mandatory instruction and information signs4.7Runway guard lights4.8Surface guidance with A-SMGCS4.9Secondary power supplies4.10Practical: lighting plan for a threshold
5.1Obstacle limitation surfaces5.2Aeronautical assessment of obstacles5.3ILS critical and sensitive areas5.4Aeronautical studies of deviations5.5Runway excursions and mitigation measures5.6EMAS arresting systems5.7Global Reporting Format (GRF)5.8Runway condition codes (RWYCC)5.9Movement area inspections5.10Case study: aeronautical study of a reduced RESA
6.1Aerodrome baseline data6.2Critical aircraft and fleet mix6.3Runway length and orientation6.4Proposed taxiway system6.5Pavement design6.6Marking and lighting plan6.7Check of obstacle surfaces6.8Drawings and estimated budget6.9Report 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 the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is FAARFIELD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Transoft AeroTURN and COMFAA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: design of an airport pavement, taxiway layout with path simulation and an aeronautical study of a design deviation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Annex 14 to the Chicago Convention, Volume I. Aerodrome Design and Operations, ICAO Doc 9157 Aerodrome Design Manual, EASA CS-ADR-DSN Certification Specifications for Aerodrome Design, FAA AC 150/5300-13B Airport Design, FAA AC 150/5320-6G Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation, ICAO Doc 9981 PANS-Aerodromes, Regulation (EU) 139/2014 on aerodrome requirements.
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 FAARFIELD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Transoft AeroTURN and COMFAA, 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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