Airbus launches global student contest for eco-efficient flight ideas

Farnborough, July 21 (IANS) Students from Indian universities have an opportunity to compete in a global contest to develop eco-efficient air travel ideas launched by European aircraft giant Airbus at the Farnborough Air Show Wednesday.

Airbus launched its second bi-annual global students' contest “To shape the future of flight”. The winner takes away a prize of 30,000 euros and the opportunity to make a presentation at the Paris Air Show in June, 2011.        
The Airbus Fly Your Ideas (FYI) competition challenges students worldwide to develop new ideas for a greener aviation industry. The contest involves three progressively challenging rounds judged by a panel of Airbus and industry experts. It concludes with a final at the Paris Air Show.        
Announcing the launch of FYI 2011, Charles Champion, Airbus executive vice president engineering, said in a statement: “Fly Your Ideas is a unique opportunity for students to be part of Airbus' vision for an eco-efficient aviation industry of the future.         
"The competition is designed to stimulate ideas for both a more connected and sustainable world. It also enables Airbus to engage with students and research teams to identify opportunities to balance the increased demand for air travel with a better environment.”        
Students of any age, nationality, gender or discipline - from engineering to marketing; business to science; philosophy to design - are invited to take part.         
Proposals are welcome on all aspects of the 'Environmental Life Cycle' - an innovative approach Airbus uses to improve the environmental performance of an aircraft and its production process, the statement said.         
It consists of five stages: design; supply chain; manufacturing; aircraft operations and aircraft end-of-life.        
The inaugural contest in 2008 saw 2,350 students from over 80 countries taking part. Of them, 244 students were from India grouped in 10 teams. Of them, six teams came up to the second round, including one from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, one team from Anna University, Tamil Nadu and four teams from Indian Institute of Technology Chennai.         
The team from the University of Queensland, Australia, were judged eventual winners in 2009. Their project focused on the use of a pioneering natural fibre composite - made from castor plants - in aircraft cabins.        
(Venkata Vemuri can be contacted at venkata.v@ians.in)