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Mastering Rotorcraft Certification by Simulation – Course Overview

The course will follow the structured Rotorcraft Certification by Simulation (RCbS) Process described in detail in the Springer Book of the same title, guiding trainees through the application of flight simulation and analysis to support certification compliance with EASA CS-27 and CS-29.

Rotorcraft Certification by Simulation

 

Course Information

The course will take place at the University of Liverpool from 18th to the 22nd of January, 2027.

Date:

18th – 22nd January 2027

Location:

School of Engineering, The University of Liverpool, UK

Places Available:

20 (first come, first served basis)

Cost:

£3,000 (20% non-refundable deposit required on booking)

Please pay here

Course Description

Using a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, trainees will work in teams to ‘learn by doing’; starting with the selection of the Applicable Certification Rules (ACRs) and following the Process through the assembly of flight simulation requirements, informed by judgements on Influence, Predictability and Credibility, and on into the detailed building of the content of the Flight Simulation Model and Flight Simulator to ensure ‘sufficient’ fidelity and representivity.

The course will provide early adopters with the skills and knowledge needed to apply the RCbS Process in practice. It is designed for:

  • Professionals experienced in modelling and simulation for rotorcraft design and development.
  • Flight test engineers looking to understand simulation-based certification methods.
  • Certification specialists and regulatory engineers
  • Those interested in expanding their expertise in this rapidly evolving field.

The course will build on industry good-practice but is considered a significant step forward in the development of certification methods, particularly in terms of the importance of a structured, requirements-based process, using adaptable-fidelity, descriptive and predictive simulation tools and associated pre-certification flight testing, to reach the goal of a credible flight simulation, fit for certification.

Trainees will form teams, each focussing on a specific ACR, selecting goals for their certification credit. FLIGHTLAB models of the aircraft will be used, along with Liverpool’s hexapod HELFLIGHT-R flight simulator to assess fidelity sufficiency. A test pilot will support the course with piloted-simulation assessments using the Handling Qualities and Simulation Fidelity Rating scales.

While the primary focus of the RCbS Springer book and this course will be conventional rotorcraft, the opportunity will be taken to explore its relevance to flight-related aspects in EASA’s Special Condition for VTOL-capable aircraft.

The full cost of the course is £3,000, with a minimum 20% non-refundable deposit of £600 required on booking. The remaining payment of £2,400 is due by 18th December 2026. Full payment can also be made at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that the course does not take place, all deposits will be refunded.

The course will be delivered by academic staff from the University of Liverpool, Cranfield University and Politecnico di Milano.