MSc in Aviation Digital Technology Management

Increasingly more intelligent aircraft are being introduced and point to the future of electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, autonomous flying taxis and space commercialisation. As more intelligent and conscious aircraft enters service, aircraft and support systems are also becoming more intelligent.

This MSc programme aims to develop professionals to innovate and apply digital technology in the aerospace industry. The course adds the digital component to aeronautical engineering graduates. It helps them to expand from the design and manufacture foci of established aeronautical engineering programmes to the wider aviation industry opportunities. The course is also a route for the large number of non-aerospace engineering and computing graduates who aspire to enter the aviation industry. In addition, the course is a career development path for aerospace industry professionals to boost their digital and innovation skills.

Who is it for?

This course is applicable to a broad range of applicants with backgrounds from aerospace, engineering, maths, physics and computing to experienced professionals looking to gain new skills in the area of digital aviation technology.

The MSc course consists of three weighted components, taught modules, an individual research project, and a group project. The taught course element includes eight taught compulsory modules, generally delivered from October to March.

The taught part of the course is followed by a Group Design Project (GDP) and individual research projects (IRPs). The GDP enables students to work as part of a team, develop project planning and management skills, and communications abilities, design, implement, validate and test an advanced air mobility system component, apply the knowledge acquired in the taught modules and integrate the various methods learned.

Students are also supported in their learning and personal development through participation in industry seminars, group poster sessions, group discussions, group presentations, video demonstrations, case studies, laboratory experiments, coursework, and project work. Students will receive hands-on experience accessing equipment and facilities within our Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre and Aerospace Integration Research Centre.

Modules

Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.

To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules that are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only and may be subject to change for your year of entry.

Course modules

Compulsory modules

All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.

• Aviation Digitalisation
• Data-centric Aircraft Systems
• Digital Aviation Operations and Maintenance Management
• Digital Engineering
• Predictive Maintenance Technology
• Aerospace Inspection and Monitoring Tools
• Digital Aviation Supply Chain Management
• Communications and Cybersecurity in Aviation

Why this course?

New and emerging generations of connected aircraft like the neo and MAX are entering service at pace. Aviation digitalisation spans the aircraft, airline, airport, airspace, MRO, ground operations and the wider ecosystem. New skills in the Internet of Things, robotics, AI, machine learning, AR/VR, big data analytics, predictive maintenance, blockchain, etc are sought by the industry. While digital technology is similar to other industrial sectors, the safety conscious and highly regulated aviation industry imposes technology adoption hurdles specific to the aerospace regulatory and culture.

The Aviation Digital Technology Management MSc is designed to equip you with the skills required to pursue a successful career in transforming the aviation industry, applying the knowledge learned to introduce new digital technologies to improve the industry as a whole. Cranfield has:

• Unique Cranfield Global Research Airport learning environment.
• World-leading research centres - Cranfield UniversityIntegrated Vehicle Health Management Centre (IVHM) has been leading research in predictive health maintenance with technology adopted by major aircraft manufacturers.
• Digital MRO and Hangar laboratories together with the Cranfield Boeing 737-400 ground demonstrator are part of our Digital Aviation Technology Centre.
• HILDA Digital High-Performance Computing Ecosystem with up to 10.5 PetaFlops processing power, 2.5 PB storage and 200GBits/s network.
• Work with industrial standard aviation IT systems.

Practical research projects make up 60% of the study. The Group Design Project (GDP) develops the students’ professional practice to work as part of a team, plan and manage projects, and communicate ideas and results. The GDP design, implement, validate and test an aspect of digital aviation, applying the knowledge acquired in the taught modules and integrating the various methods learnt.

The Individual Research Projects (IRPs) allow the students to specialise in a digital aviation topic relevant to their career development. The real-world relevance of the research project topics is an effective differentiator in the job market.

Industry-led education makes Cranfield graduates some of the most desirable all over the world for recruitment by both global primes to smaller innovative start-ups looking for the brightest talent. Graduates of the course should find engineering and management opportunities in the aviation ecosystem, including operators, maintenance organisations, financiers, airports and future spaceport operators.

Graduates will be equipped with advanced skills which could be applied to the aviation, air traffic, air transport, security, defence, and aerospace industries. This approach offers you a wide range of career choices in current and emerging roles. Others decide to continue their education through PhD studies available within Cranfield University or elsewhere.