Quick Facts

Medium Of Instructions	Mode Of Learning	Mode Of Delivery
English	Self Study	Video and Text Based

Course Overview

India has not yet developed its own civil transport aircraft. The Aircraft Design certification course is an effort by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur to provide practical training to the young and emerging engineers & students so that they achieve this milestone in the coming decades. Candidates will be comprehensively taught how to design an aircraft.

The Aircraft Design online program will also teach skills on adding structural elements into the aircraft design concept. Learners will not only learn about simple conceptual design but also a little bit of complex aircraft design concepts.

The Aircraft Design certification course by SWAYAM will impart knowledge on the complete aircraft design process, including configuration layout, sizing, trade studies, requirement definition, analysis, and optimization. It is a 12-week-long online course that will mainly focus on the usage of necessary aerodynamic concepts that are utilized in aircraft design.

The Highlights

12-weeks program
Core course type
Undergraduate/postgraduate level course
Aerospace Engineering and Flight Mechanics category study
An offering of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Self-directed learning
Ongoing course

Important dates

Certificate Exam Date

Start Date : 24 Apr, 2026

Programme Offerings

Free program access
Self-paced learning
A shareable certificate
video lectures
Digital learning platform
An offering of IITK
Paid certification
Written examination
Extensive curriculum
assignments
Expert instructors.

Courses and Certificate Fees

Fees Informations	Certificate Availability	Certificate Providing Authority
INR 1000	yes	IIT Kanpur

Access to this online course is free of cost
The examination fee for the Aircraft Design program is Rs. 1,000

Aircraft Design fee structure -

Course option	Fees
Aircraft Design (Access only)	Free
Aircraft Design (Exam fee)	Rs. 1,000

Eligibility Criteria

The candidates will be eligible for the Aircraft Design certification only if they achieve at least 40% marks in the final score. The final score is equal to 25% assignment score plus 75% in the written examination. The 25% assignment score will be calculated based on 25% of the average of marks in the best eight of the total 12 assignments included in the course.

The prerequisite to enroll in the Aircraft Design training is that you should have completed the ‘Introduction to Airplane Performance’ course on SWAYAM or an equivalent qualification.

What you will learn

Knowledge of engineering

The Aircraft Design syllabus covers the whole process of designing an aircraft from beginning to end. By the end of the course, you will become adept in the conceptual and detailed design of an airplane along with a sound understanding of aerodynamic concepts.

Who it is for

The Aircraft Design online program will be most beneficial to the students pursuing BTech, MTech, and Ph.D. in the relevant fields of study.

Admission Details

Join the Aircraft Design online program by following the steps given below.

Step 1 – Click on this link - https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc25_ae02/preview to land on the official course page of Aircraft Design at the SWAYAM website.

Step 2 – Locate the ‘Sign-in/Register’ button at the top and click on it. A registration page will now open.

Step 3 – Sign up for a new account by entering the required details and verification code. Alternatively, you can link an existing Google, Microsoft, or Facebook account to log in instantly.

Step 4 – Now, simply click on the ‘Join’ button on the course page to enroll in the Aircraft Design training successfully.

NOTE – Candidates are advised to check whether the course is still accepting enrolments or not.

Application Details

You don’t have to submit an application form to apply for admission to the Aircraft Design online course. Just visit the SWAYAM website, sign up for an account and join the course quickly.

The Syllabus

Overview of the Design Process
Airfoil and Geometry Selection
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio and Wing Loading

Initial Sizing
Control-Surface Sizing
Configuration Layout

Aerodynamic Considerations
Structural Considerations
Vulnerability Considerations

Crew Station
Passengers
Payload

Propulsion and Fuel System Integration
Fuel System
Landing Gear Arrangements

Step-by-Step Development of a New Design
Aerodynamics
Propulsion

Structures and Loads
Weights
Group Weights Method

Stability, Control, and Handling Qualities
Longitudinal Static Stability and Control
Lateral-Directional Static Stability and Control

Performance and Flight Mechanics
Equations of Motion
Operating Envelope

Cost Analysis
Operations and Maintenance Costs
Aircraft and Airline Economics

Sizing and Trade Studies
Vertical Flight--Jet and Prop
Extremes of Flight

Design of Unique Aircraft Concepts
Flying Wing, Tailless, Lifting Fuselage, and Blended Wing-Body
Conceptual Design Examples

Evaluation process

Candidates interested in receiving the Aircraft Design certification will have to register and appear for the proctored examination conducted at one of Swayam’s designated centers. It will be held in two shifts. The morning and afternoon shift is from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm respectively.

Additional details about the Aircraft Design online course exam will be announced in the future. Candidates will have to fill an online registration form and pay the exam fee to appear in the exam.