Postgraduate Prospectus

Safety and Accident Investigation (Air Transport) MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Air crash simulation at Cranfield Airport

Suitable for those with a technical or operational background in air transport or safety engineering/management who wish to embark upon or develop further a career in aircraft accident investigation. This course is designed for students who will attend part-time.

Takes you on to a role as an aircraft accident investigator. Although investigators are mainly employed by dedicated government agencies, such as the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, they are also employed by manufacturers of airframes, power plants or other equipment, airlines, air traffic service providers, safety regulators, insurers and the military.

You will be taught by a wide range of experts from across Cranfield University, including members of the Cranfield Institute for Safety Risk and Reliability and the Safety and Accident Investigation Centre. In addition, the course draws upon a wide range of external presenters from investigation agencies including the UK Air, Rail and Marine Accident Investigation Branches, the military and beyond.

Course description

Cranfield University is proud to offer the world’s first full MSc programme designed for aircraft accident investigators.

Modelled on our annual accident investigation short courses – which have run since 1977 in collaboration with the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch – the MSc programme starts with a pair of intensive three-week modules in Fundamentals of Investigation and Advanced Aircraft Accident Investigation Techniques.

These modules involve over 70 presenters from all aspects of accident investigation and feature a range of activities such as investigative interviewing, legal skills, visits to the Royal Navy Flight Safety and Accident Investigation Centre, BBC News and the AAIB, and six hands-on investigation simulations.

Upon completion, students can then specialise in particular areas of investigation by choosing four modules from the selection below.

Finally, students are expected to complete a supervised research thesis on a subject of their choice within the aircraft accident investigation field.

Modules:

Optional modules covering a range of areas are available, including:

Core Skills

  • Courtroom Skills and the Legal Responsibilities of the Expert Witness
  • Investigation and Evidence Collection
  • Research Methods and Statistics

Management

  • Mass Fatality Incidents
  • Aviation Safety Management

Engineering

  • Fire and Explosion Investigations
  • Engineering Failures and Accidents
  • Introduction to Forensic Ballistics Investigations
  • Introduction to Aircraft Structural Crashworthiness

Operations

  • Introduction to Human Factors
  • Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance
  • Human Performance and Error
  • Introduction to Aircraft Performance

Specialist Techniques

  • Analytical Techniques in Forensic Science (double module)
  • Forensic Investigation of Explosives and Explosive Devices
  • Forensic Aspects of the Effects of Explosions on Materials
  • Surface Science and Engineering
  • Corrosion in the Offshore Environment
  • Underwater Vehicles and Systems
  • Safety, Reliability and Risk Engineering
  • Safety Assessment of Aircraft Systems
  • Sonar, Acoustic and Seismic Sensors
  • Aerial Photography and Digital Photogrammetry

Entry requirements

1st or 2nd class UK Honours degree or equivalent in any discipline and relevant experience within aviation, safety or related discipline.

Duration

3 years part-time (although it may be possible to complete in 2 years).

Start date

Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

Number of places

30

Assessment

Assignments, group projects, examinations, investigation simulations, research thesis.

Further details & applications

Contact

SoE Admissions (SAI)
T: + 44 (0)1234 754237
E: soe_sai@cranfield.ac.uk

Application process

Application form.

Online application

Safety and Accident Investigation (Air Transport)

Teaching location

Cranfield campus, School of Engineering

Additional files

Postgraduate application form - Taught courses