The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that by 2030, the number of air travelers will reach six billion, which is roughly double the levels of 2011[1]. In order to manage such growth with environmental responsibility, the ICAO has set the grand challenge in aviation sustainability to “strike a balance among three pillars of sustainability—social, economic, and environmental.” This challenge relates to the "Healthy and Sustainable communities" impact area of the Polytechnic.
In support of the above grand challenge, the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology is engaged in research projects on the following topics:
- Translating Strategy, Policy, and Innovation into Practices, Products, and Impact
- Cradle-to-cradle Component-through-Enterprise Lifecycle Management
- Alternative Fuels and Emissions (science, technology, and policy)
- Design, Manufacturing, and Repair of Light-weight Composite Aerospace Structures
- Global Data Standardization and Sharing
Faculty Focus Areas
The Faculty Focus Areas are aligned with the school-level long-term research focus areas such that the faculty members are fully supported by the School to pursue research in the pre-identified areas, and these faculty members are internationally-renowned experts in those areas. Some faculty members focus on research methodologies as their area of expertise.
[1] https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Documents/Rio+20_booklet.pdf
Blueavion f1, an airport sensor system co-developed by John Mott, associate professor of aviation technology, is now available commercially. The product was tested at the Purdue University Airport.
A knowledge gap in the development of alternative aviation fuels led to the creation of the Fuel Laboratory of Renewable Energy (FLORE), a new interdisciplinary research lab in Purdue’s Potter Engineering Center directed by Gozdem Kilaz, assistant professor of engineering technology.
The United States Air Force has partnered with Purdue University to teach cadets in its Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) how to fly.
Our Focus on Quality Sustainability
