Like all complex technical systems, future air transportation is subject to change through evolution and revolution: an irregular alternation between incremental and radical changes. These change processes are not limited to technical developments but are also influenced by political, economic and social factors. For commercial aviation, these factors include the regulation of new technologies, the shift of the economic focus to the Asia-Pacific region and the social acceptance of increasing automation. At the same time, environmental challenges are interacting with a continuously increasing demand for aircraft movements.
The new lecture Future Air Transportation Systems is concerned with identifying and describing factors influencing the overall system in order to anticipate both short-term and long-term changes. In this context, the effects of digitalization, networking and automation are shown and the development of urban, autonomous and orbital air traffic is included in the consideration.
The lecture is offered every winter term with a two hour lecture per week (4CP). It is aimed at students completing a Master of Science in Mechanical and Process Engineering and is positioned in the mandatory elective field III. The Instructor is Dr.-Ing. Jens Schiefele (Director Boeing Digital Aviation Research).
