Air Transport
60th Anniversary
13 September 2024
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We are thrilled to invite you back to Cranfield to celebrate 60 years of air transport teaching and research at Cranfield University.
As we mark this significant milestone, join us for a memorable day of learning, reconnection, and exploration.
The event will feature insights from industry experts who are leading the way in digitalisation, investment, customer experience, and operations within the aviation sector. We will also address the opportunities and challenges that aviation leaders face today and in the future.
This celebration event is not only a chance to celebrate our collective achievements but also to showcase the remarkable impact of the Centre for Air Transport Management. You'll hear from our world-class faculty, engage with the extensive alumni community, and discover some of the latest work with our partners. The day's agenda includes keynote lectures, dynamic panel discussions, guided tours of our cutting-edge facilities, and the announcement of this year's Aviation Alumni Award winners.
We hope you will join us and contribute your valuable perspectives to the discussions, as well as reconnect with your classmates, reminisce about your time at Cranfield, and look forward to the future of aviation together.
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Agenda
8:45 |
Registration and refreshments |
9:10 |
Welcome Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE, FREng, DL, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing |
9:20 |
Centre for Air Transport Management update Anna Smallwood, Professor and Head of Centre for Air Transport Management |
9:30 |
Keynote Justin Symonds (MSc Air Transport 1991), Senior Advisor, InfraBridge |
10:00 |
Break |
10:30 |
Panel discussion – ‘Future Prospects Facing Aviation’ • Chair: Keith Mason, Professor of Air Transport Management |
11:30 |
Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Aviation Graduates Presentation and Lecture Presented by Professor Graham Braithwaite, Director of Transport Systems |
12:00 |
Lunch |
13:00 |
Keynote Emilia Apostu (MSc Air Transport Management 2019), Regulations and Standards Specialist TUI Airline Ground Operations, TUIfly GmbH |
13:30 |
Distinguished Aviation Alumni Award Presentation and Lecture Presented by Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE FREng |
14:20 |
Walk to DARTeC and refreshments |
15:00 |
Keynote Carlos Kaduoka (MSc Air Transport Management 2000, PhD Transport Systems 2015), Interim President Americas, SITA |
15:45 |
Tours Tour of the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) and National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) flying classroom |
17:00 |
Closing remarks Professor Graham Braithwaite, Director of Transport Systems |
17:15 |
Drinks reception |
Tours
During the day we are pleased to be able to provide you with the opportunity to see some of the latest research facilities we have at Cranfield University.
Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC)
Enabling collaboration across the University, DARTeC addresses research challenges facing the aviation industry, such as the integration of drones into civilian airspace, increasing the efficiency of airports through technological advances, creating safe and secure shared airspace through secure data communication infrastructures, and enhancing the reliability and availability of aircraft through self-sensing, self-aware technologies.
Game-changing technologies, such as a digital air traffic control tower and next-generation radar technologies at the University’s licensed airport, create a unique research and development environment.
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National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) flying classroom
The unique National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) at Cranfield University operates unique aircraft, including the Saab 340B flying classroom, to support teaching, research, and consultancy. Over 2,000 aeronautical students from over 20 UK universities annually use the flying classroom as part of their degree course. This fully instrumented aircraft supplies passengers with real-time data about a range of performance parameters, allowing students to become flight test engineers during their flight.
Fitted with an Aspire 400 satellite communications system, the aircraft has a unique capability for STEM outreach and research, as aircraft data can be transmitted in real time to anywhere in the world and inspire the next generation through its ‘Global Connected Classroom’ capability. The aircraft also has a spare avionics rack located in the rear cargo hold to facilitate bespoke research work.
In 2019, we won our 6th Queens Anniversary Prize, the highest honour that can be given to a university, for our work supporting the nation’s aero-engineering students with the NFLC, and we were honoured to welcome The Princess Royal to Cranfield University in February 2023 to officially open the NFLC’s new flying classroom.
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Speakers
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Reconnect with your classmates
If you would like to reach out to your former classmates or arrange a class reunion in conjunction with this event, please contact the alumni team. We would be delighted to assist you in making this a truly special reunion.
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Alumni Relations and Development
E: alumni@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 754456
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