The International Conference on Air Transport INAIR 2014

Transcription

1 The International Conference on Air Transport INAIR 2014 UNIZA also organized the International Conference on Air Transport INAIR. The conference has become an established event bringing together aviation professionals and academics. After the sessions in Žilina (2012) and Bratislava (2013) the INAIR 2014 conference was held in Prague on November 13 and 14. As the only conference of its kind in Central Europe it dealt mainly with the future direction of Europe and the need of strengthening the links between university education and industry. The conference addressed the following areas: What are the current issues of European aviation education and workforce? Is it finally time for Europe to consider how to stay connected? By what means it could be achieved? What are the unique selling points of Europe s aviation branch? What is the role of other regions in this process? How can Europe cooperate with other regions? Can Europe export training given its strong legacy? Is the new generation of professionals able to change current status? What is the role of national organizations and governmental institutions in strengthening European research and innovation potential in the field of Aeronautics and Air Transport? Representatives of 20 European and non-european nations took part at the third edition of the INAIR conference presenting insights of airport management, airlines, aviation consultancy business, universities, flight training schools, air traffic service providers, major aircraft manufacturers, research centers, intergovernmental organizations, civil aviation authorities and other aviation sector. Nearly a hundred experts seek answers to questions about: How Europe could remain in the limelight of world air transport with respect to aviation education and workforce? How the new generation of aviation professionals in Europe could change or even improve the status quo? What is the role of government and national institutions in strengthening European research, development and innovation potential in aeronautics and air transport? The purpose of other similar questions was also to point out on what really makes the European Aviation interesting business "article" and what is the role of other regions of the world and how they can collaborate with Europe. "The volume of air traffic will double in the next 15 years and Europe will be part of it", said Professor Tony Kazda, Head of the Air Transport Department at the University of Zilina, the main organizer of the event. With respect to the future direction of Europe as a traditional area on the map of world aviation he stressed the importance of modern curricula and professional flight training available at the University of Zilina.

2 He stressed the role of universities in strengthening the contacts with industry, offering students internships in airlines, airports or creating specialized commercial training courses. According to Prof. Kazda the future of aviation is strongly linked with science and research. Prof. Kazda acquainted the conference participants with research projects and consultancy activities of the University of Žilina. He also mentioned efforts of the university to create opportunities for cooperation between the countries of the European Union in financing aviation research at the intergovernmental level. Compared to the 80thies and 90thies of the last century, we see that position of European aviation is challenged in the last decade. New emerging regions like Middle East, Asia and Latin America set the trend nowadays. Prof. John Wensveen, Head of Aviation at Purdue University (USA) says the success of Europe is to be found in the completion of one or two large hub airports and in reducing navigation fees and taxes. He stresses that it is essential to continue the liberalization of the European aviation. On top of that it is important to shorten door-to-door travel times on all intra-european destinations. Prof. Peter Forsyth of Australia's Monash University postulated that Europe can be successful by increasing the productivity of airlines and reducing unit costs. Willy Ruf, Director of Operations, SWISSPORT, said that Europe is already the market leader in terms of innovation and automation of technical and business handling of aircraft. He expects that Europe will strengthen its leadership through the introduction of innovative methods of setting charges for technical handling of aircraft, with respect to the volume of passengers carried. Peter Mayerhofer from Vienna International Airport stressed the importance of transnational cooperation between airports and airlines. Tomas Dusa of the Czech GNSS Centre of Excellence (GCE) added that even in the field of satellite navigation systems cooperation is the only alternative in the European area. An example is the CaBilAvi research project (focused on training of future pilots in the field of satellite navigation systems and funded by the EU through the program Horizon 2020). During the discussion and panel session of the Conference it was concluded, that European aviation education is one of the most important European assets. It s position should be enhanced by strengthening contacts between academia and the air transport industry which are, when comparing it with the aeronautics not on the same level yet.

3 Picture 1: Participants of the INAIR 2014 conference

4 Picture 2: Opening of the conference by Prof. Tony Kazda, Head of the Air Transport Department, University of Zilina

5 Picture 3: (from left to right) Prof. John G. Wensveen (Purdue University, USA), prof. Peter Forsyth (Monash University, Australia) and Kevin D. Craven (Afriqiyah Airways, Egypt)