Taking airworthiness to the next level

Citation

(2006), "Taking airworthiness to the next level", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778aab.016

Taking airworthiness to the next level

Taking airworthiness to the next level

Keywords: Aerospace engineering, Qualifications, Research

Airlines need to strike a better balance between safety and cost in order to maximise performance in today's competitive market, says Professor John Bristow, a former Senior Manager with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Cranfield Visiting Professor.

To achieve this Professor Bristow believes a detailed knowledge of airworthiness issues is needed by all engineers working in the field of aviation safety whether this be in the design and production of aircraft or their maintenance, modification and repair.

In response, Cranfield University is using its considerable expertise in aerospace technology to meet these training requirements by launching the first ever academically recognised qualification in airworthiness.

Run on a part-time basis, this Masters' level course provides a fundamental understanding of airworthiness related to the wide spectrum of technologies met in aerospace.

Steve Swift of the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority said: “I welcome Cranfield University's new Airworthiness MSc, especially its regulatory emphasis. The course will, no doubt, benefit from the practical experience gained from the university's long and strong associations with manufacturers, operators and authorities, both civil and military”.

Course Director Dr Ken Ramsden said: “Cranfield academics, together with experienced regulators and industry experts, are combining their expertise to explain the safety aspects of current airworthiness regulations in relation to the background technologies”.

The Airworthiness MSc programme requires each student to undertake a related research project and select 10 modules from the 15 currently available:

1. 1.

   aircraft fatigue and damage tolerance;

2. 2.

   safety assessment of aircraft systems;

3. 3.

   gas turbine fundamentals;

4. 4.

   properties and application of metals;

5. 5.

   mechanical integrity of gas turbines;

6. 6.

   aircraft stressing and detail design;

7. 7.

   gas turbine operation and maintenance;

8. 8.

   intelligent systems;

9. 9.

   reliability analysis;

10. 10.

    aircraft accident investigation and response;

11. 11.

    product evaluation and manufacture;

12. 12.

    fundamentals of aircraft and engine aerodynamics;

13. 13.

    fundamentals of aircraft engine controls;

14. 14.

    manufacturing technology; and

15. 15.

    gas turbine performance.