Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Major boost for aerospace research at Cranfield University

Aerospace

Major boost for aerospace research at Cranfield University

Cranfield University's newest world-class facility, the £35m Aerospace Integration Research Centre, is open for business from today.

The keys to the building have been given to the university by the building contractor RG Carter’s. From this week, the centre will be home to Cranfield researchers and industrial partners with the aim of investigating ways of integrating advanced technologies and reducing time from academic innovation to industrial application.

Advertisement
Farsound RT 2

Researchers from both the university and business partners, including Airbus and Rolls-Royce, will work under the one roof. Research at the centre will look at the most effective ways of integrating the aircraft and its subsystems as well as developing the use of automation.

Features of the new centre include:
•    A visualisation area, air-traffic management simulation and large aircraft flight simulator used to test new ideas and impact on aircraft. Feedback screens are linked to the visualisation lab and the pod meeting area.
•    1500m² open lab – to be used for testing intelligent robots in the structural assembly of aircraft parts, including 18m x 6m sliding doors to allow a demonstrator aircraft, such as the University’s 19-seater Jetstream 31, to enter the facility.
•    A full-size aircraft wing.
•    A FANUC CR-35iA robot – which can operate in an uncaged, open space, and determine the proximity of a person or object so it will stop if touched.
•    Closed labs for research requiring a controlled environment such as testing UAVs, structures, assembly and intelligent automation.

The AIRC building has taken two years to complete, 19 months since the initial groundbreaking in July 2015. The AIRC project’s £35 million investment consists of co-funding from Rolls-Royce and Airbus, HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England) and from Cranfield itself.

Advertisement
Advanced Engineering RT

Cranfield is the only university in Europe that brings together major aerospace research facilities, including the Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC), its airport and runway on one connected site.

Tim Mackley, Head of the AIRC said: “This is an exciting day, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards a more integrated approach to research between academia and industry with an aim of developing innovative and integrated solutions for aerospace.”

An official opening of the Centre will take place later this year.
 

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation LB 1
EasyJet inaugurates new Birmingham base

Aerospace

EasyJet inaugurates new Birmingham base

18 March 2024

EasyJet has today inaugurated its newest UK base, at Birmingham Airport, the airline’s ninth UK base and first new base in the UK in more than a decade, creating 140 direct jobs for pilots and crew in the UK and in total supporting around 1,200 jobs.

Viasat

Aerospace Space

Viasat's IFC selected by Royal Jordanian Airlines

18 March 2024

Royal Jordanian Airlines and Viasat have announced that the airline will officially make high-speed Wi-Fi a priority to enhance its future passenger experience by selecting Viasat's in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution across multiple fleets.

CAE to provide Boeing 737MAX pilot training for Akasa Air

Aerospace

CAE to provide Boeing 737MAX pilot training for Akasa Air

18 March 2024

CAE today announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Akasa Air, to provide Boeing 737MAX pilot training at CAE’s facilities in India.

UK Future of Flight Action Plan launched

Aerospace Security

UK Future of Flight Action Plan launched

18 March 2024

Flying taxis, crime-fighting drones and critical 999 care deliveries could all be a reality by 2030 thanks to the UK Government and industry’s joint Future of Flight Action Plan, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) today.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT
Flightdeck Films delivers careers videos for L3Harris and Menzies Aviation

Aerospace

Flightdeck Films delivers careers videos for L3Harris and Menzies Aviation

18 March 2024

Flightdeck Films has announced creative partnerships with L3Harris and Menzies Aviation to help them recruit and retain top talent using video.

BA overhauls airport ground equipment at Heathrow

Aerospace

BA overhauls airport ground equipment at Heathrow

18 March 2024

British Airways is embarking on a multimillion-pound investment programme to overhaul its ground support equipment at Heathrow Airport, as part of its commitment to reducing emissions both in the air and on the ground.

Advertisement
Advanced Engineering RT