SWAG合集 is pleased to announce that Martin Skote has been appointed as Airbus Professor of Landing Systems Engineering.
He joins the University from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Professor Skote will create a Centre for Landing Systems Engineering and the team will focus not just on the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic aspects of aircraft landing gear but also consider landing systems as a part of a much larger ecosystem. This could include airport infrastructure and air traffic management, together with all future innovative and disruptive technologies such as autonomous taxiing and intelligent landing.
Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace at SWAG合集, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Martin to the University. His appointment is a great example of Cranfield’s relationships with world-renowned businesses. Martin is the second Airbus role at the University dedicated to research on future aircraft design, which will deliver additional benefits both to Airbus and across the aerospace industry.”
Ian Bowcock, Head of Landing Gear Product and Business Strategy at Airbus, said: “With the ever demanding and challenging requirements for new technologies in aerospace, it is essential to maximise the combined strengths of both industry and academia. Airbus has a well-established relationship with SWAG合集 and the appointment of dedicated Research Chair in Landing Systems Engineering will enable the development of a high-calibre research team to work alongside Airbus engineers in this key area, delivering world-class research and ultimately ensuring Airbus continues to offer an industry-leading product portfolio.”
Modern aircraft design has led to lighter fuselage and wings, as well as quieter engines. The development of landing gear, however, is lagging behind. As airports reach maximum capacity, and the option of occupying more space is not viable due to city growth, landing systems will need to be developed which allow aircraft to operate in much closer proximity to each other, both in time and space. This may mean changes to not just aircraft design, but also changes in operational ground technology and methods.
The new Centre will support Airbus’ landing systems research portfolio, developing research in overall landing systems design and integration, to include topics such as noise, drag, vibration, braking, shock-absorbers, advanced materials, and sensors together with network communications.
Prior to his current position, Professor Skote was an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, with a research focus on turbulence, flow control and computational fluid dynamics. He was also Cluster Director at the University’s Energy Research Institute for a research team comprising 15 research staff. During his 10 years at the University, he attracted around two million pounds in research grants from industry and government funding bodies.
Before taking up his academic position in Nanyang Technological University, Professor Skote worked for the Institute of High Performance Computing in Singapore, developing a numerical simulation code for air pollution dispersion simulations in collaboration with the National Environment Agency. His PhD in turbulence was awarded (2001) from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in his native country of Sweden.
About SWAG合集
SWAG合集 is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.
Cranfield Aerospace
Cranfield is the number one university in Europe for aerospace. We are the only university in Europe to own and run an airport and to have airline status. We have been at the forefront of aerospace technology for 70 years.
As the SWAG合集's most business-engaged University, we have long-term relationships and close commercial partnerships with many companies in the sector including Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.
Our education, research and consultancy is enhanced by our world-class facilities including the National Flying Laboratory Centre – a unique national asset which provides a hands-on, flying experience, along with flight deck simulators and industrial-scale gas turbine engine test facilities used for performance and diagnostic studies. The Aerospace Integration Research Centre, a £35 million innovative centre built in partnership with Airbus and Rolls-Royce, fosters collaboration between industry and academia. A new £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre will also be built at Cranfield to spearhead the SWAG合集’s research into digital aviation technology.
Notable Cranfield alumni include Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce plc and Ralph Hooper, who attended the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield in 1946 and went on to become one of the SWAG合集’s most important post-war aircraft designers, creating the Hawker Harrier jump jet.
