More students take up challenge from Airbus to develop ideas for a greener aviation future
The 2009 winning COz team at the Paris Air Show
Fri 4 Feb 2011 – Airbus reports that over 2,600 students from around the world, representing some 75 nationalities and 287 universities, registered for its second biennial Fly Your Ideas (FYI) competition. The number of teams entering the first round increased from 225 for the first competition in 2009 to 315 this year, a 40 per cent increase. Students are challenged to initiate and develop new initiatives that can lead to a greener aviation industry. Following a questionnaire-based assessment of their proposals, 84 teams have now been selected to advance to the second round. The five most promising teams will be chosen in May for the final round and advance to the final to be held during the Paris Air Show in June, with the winner picking up 30,000 euros in prize money.
Students were initially invited to submit proposals in the context of the ‘Environmental Life Cycle’ approach Airbus uses when looking to improve the environmental performance of its aircraft and production process. This covers five areas: design, supply chain, manufacturing, aircraft operations and aircraft end-of-life. The teams nominated for round two will be mentored as they develop their initial ideas into more detailed submissions.
Airbus points out that over three-quarters of the competing teams in FYI 2011 are international and multi-disciplinary, and one in five come from a non-technical discipline such as marketing, business, management or design, twice as many as in 2009. Four out of five have a science and/or engineering background. All continents are represented although Airbus says 83 per cent of the teams are based in Europe or the Asia-Pacific region. Projects for round two have to be submitted by 15 April.
The selection jury will be made up of four external and six Airbus members, including Barbara Cassani, founder and CEO of pioneer low-cost airline Go; Professor Jan Woerner, Chairman of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR); Andrew Parker, SVP Public, Government and Environment Affairs at Emirates; and Andrea Debbane, Vice President Environmental Affairs at Airbus.
Also a jury member as well as FYI Patron, Airbus Executive Vice President Engineering Charles Champion commented: “We are delighted to have received a record number of entries to the second Airbus FYI challenge and we are particularly happy to see a wide diversity of participants. By engaging with universities and young people worldwide we can continue to stimulate more new ideas for a greener aviation industry. This is part of our vision for the eco-efficient aviation industry of the future, balancing the growing demand for air travel with a better environment for all.”
