Â鶹Éçmadou
Science Aviation

Honours in aviation

The Aviation Honours Program introduces students to academic research and provides the opportunity to be eligible for a post-graduate research degree.

Aeroplane high in the sky

Course aims

The 3-term (equivalent) Aviation Honours Program aims to help students achieve, through research, a deep understanding of a specific aspect of aviation, while developing a range of skills that are highly valued in industry, including:

  • Time management.
  • Project management.
  • Problem solving.
  • Working in a team.
  • Collecting and analysing information.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Designing research to advance knowledge or address an issue.
  • Data analysis techniques.
  • Report writing.
  • Presentation of information to an audience.

Course summary

Within the Aviation Honours Program students:

  • conduct research in the broad field of aviation and transport, and meet regularly with their academic supervisor.
  • attend research skills workshops and school research presentations throughout the year.

Course learning outcomes

At the successful completion of Aviation Honours Program you should be able to:

  • demonstrate an advanced understanding of a specific aviation topic
  • demonstrate an ability to undertake scientific research
  • demonstrate an understanding of the research process as applied to aviation
  • develop a research proposal on a specific aviation topic
  • write a research report evidencing good practice in report writing
  • present your research to peers, staff and other interested persons in a seminar format.

Assessment

For information about assessments, please refer to the following handbook links:

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Assessment tasks are each marked by at least two academics. The possible grades for the Honours program are:Ìý

  • Fail (<49%)
  • Hons. Class III (50% to 64%)
  • Hons. Class II, Division 2 (65% to 74%)
  • Hons. Class II, Division I (75% to 84%)
  • Hons. Class I (>85%)

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Applying for the Aviation Honours Program

Entry requirements

To apply for the Aviation Honours Program you must have achieved a Credit (WAM 65) plus average in a 3-year full-time bachelor degree specialising in Aviation. This typically includes the Â鶹Éçmadou 3980 Aviation (Flying) and 3981 Aviation (Management) programs but may include other Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering programs where students have majored in Aviation or Aerospace Engineering.

Application process

Application for entry into the Aviation Honours Program is made via the Science Faculty. The application procedures and deadlines are available at Honours, how to apply. Note that you may apply to enter the program in Term 1, Term 2, or Term 3.

To apply you first need to identify an academic in the School of Aviation who is willing to supervise your Honours research. Please consider the potential supervisors and their areas of research below under Honours Research Supervisors. Organise to meet with potential supervisors whose research interests you to discuss your plans.

When you have a willing supervisor fill out the Science Honours application form, attaching written evidence of the supervisor's acceptance to supervise (such as a copy of an email correspondence).

If you have other questions or need assistance with your decisions about Honours or the application process, please contact the Aviation Honours Program Convenor:

Dr Mirjam Wiedemann
E:Ìým.wiedemann@unsw.edu.au

Honours research supervisors and research areas

Specialisation is encouraged in all areas of aviation. The specific research areas of potential supervisors are indicated below, and their profiles (accessed by clicking their name) provide further detail. Supervisors develop Honours topics of mutual interest with students. Additionally, industry partners regularly offer real-world project-type Honours projects. The Honours Coordinator is the first point of contact for any industry-led projects.

  • Areas of research:Ìýroad safety

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9385 6227
    Email:Ìýsoufiane@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • Reporting of aviation crashes in Australian newspapers

    Suggested topics include:

    • Airline safety in the age of social media
    • The analysis of digital flight data to monitor the performance of flying students
    • Factors that contribute to pilot shortage in Australia
    • Data integration and aviation safety

  • Areas of research:Ìýhuman factors and safety

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9385 7184
    Email:Ìýcarloc@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • Investigating eye tracking technology as a tool to improve the visual scanning techniques of novice pilots

    Suggested topics include:

    • Improving the accessibility of air travel for people with disability
    • Use and evaluation of international standards on safety management systems
    • Validation of selection tests for trainee pilots
    • Methods for providing feedback on trainee pilot visual scanning
    • Reliability and usability of methods for understanding complex systems and incidents (e.g., FRAM)
    • Safety management, practices and responsibilities for transnational operations
    • Aviation health and wellbeing: physical and mental health of crew and passengers
    • Improving Injury data classification and management

  • Areas of research: drones, autonomous systems,Ìýremote piloting

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9348 8138
    Email:Ìý graham.doig@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • Design, development and experimental flight testing of large cargo drones
    • Operational considerations for large drone logistics
    • Modelling performance of electric aircraft in realistic weather and environmental conditions

    Suggested topics include:

    • Evaluating the socio-economic impact potential of large drone logistics for rural and remote regions
    • Factors and barries affecting implementation of drone technology across Small Island nations in the Pacific
    • Developing public-benefit data and evaluation metrics for use of drones in applications like surf lifesaving, security, environmental protection
    • Use of drones to uncover environmental crimes (illegal emissions, dumping at sea, crimes against protected wildlife)

  • Areas of research:Ìýair transportation and freight services; human geography; commerce; management; tourism and services

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9385 6737
    Email:Ìýt.koo@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • Modelling public acceptance of recreational and commercial remotely piloted aircraft in SydneyÌý
    • Development and validation of airport dependency indices
    • Exploratory study of the impact of significant ecotourism experience on voluntary carbon-offset behaviour of travellers

    Suggested topics include:

    • Modelling sustainable air travel choices and practices by consumers of aviation
    • Commercial, recreational, research-based airborne drone management, policy, and governance
    • Research methods in air route development for stakeholders such as airports and tourism
    • Methods and tools for mapping spatial and temporal dynamics of the air transport-tourism system

  • Areas of research:Ìýhuman factors and aviation safety; pilot risk management; aviation (mis)communication; noise effects; pilot training and performance; cabin safety and passenger behaviour; human performance; remotely piloted aircraft

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9385 6757
    Email:Ìýb.molesworth@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • Using EEG spectral components to assess the fatiguing effect of aircraft noise
    • Effect of tone of feedback on the performance of student pilots
    • Investigating predictors of risk in the general population and the pilot population
    • Pilot psychology: health and wellbeing

    Suggested topics include:

    • Road safety: reducing young drivers’ speed behaviour
    • Aviation Safety: Reducing pilots’ miscommunication
    • Aviation Safety: Effect of visual and auditory feedback on student pilots’ learning outcome
    • Aviation Safety: Improving passengers’ recall of information presented in the pre-flight safety briefing
    • Road safety: training young novice drivers where to look to improve speed management
    • Aviation Safety: Understanding communication errors between pilots and air traffic control
    • Aviation Safety: Improving pilots risk management through cognitive integration training

  • Areas of research:Ìýairports, drones, sustainable aviation, aerotropolis/airport city, regional economic development (including tourism strategies), aviation finance strategies and economics, aviation strategic management

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9348 1689
    Email:Ìým.wiedemann@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • Safety considerations of hydrogen refuelling stations in the airport environment
    • How to facilitate tacit knowledge spillover between companies in different industries in an Aerotropolis

    Suggested topics include:

    • Integration of advanced and sustainable aviation technologies into the airport master plan
    • Private-public-partnerships for a drone taxi public transport service
    • Drones for regional integration and prosperity
    • Airport and Region: Interfaces and stakeholders
    • Electric flight infrastructure for airports and regions
    • Drone/AAM infrastructure for airports and regions
    • Cost-benefit analysis for new aviation technologies: drones, hydrogen and electric flight
    • Route analysis considering AAM, hydrogen and electric flight
    • Life cycle analysis for new aviation technologies: drones, hydrogen and electric flight

  • Areas of research:Ìýairline management/performance

    Tel:Ìý+61 2 9385 4191
    Email:Ìýc.l.wu@unsw.edu.au

    Recent topics include, for example:

    • The impact of personalised mobile marketing on passenger shopping behaviours in the airport terminal
    • Assessing the effect of textual and visual information presentation on the usability of airline web interface with eye-tracker and EEG
    • The impact of personalised mobile marketing on passenger shopping behaviours in the airport terminal
    • Understanding and predicting consumer behaviour based on an analysis of clickstream and frequent flyer data
    • Effects of enterprise bargaining and agreement clauses on operating cost of airline ground crew scheduling

    Suggested topics include:

    • Data models on passenger movement patterns in an airport terminal
    • Visual attention of passengers in airport retail shops
    • Air passenger retail purchase modelling and airport terminal space design
    • Reinforcement learning models in airline scheduling

Some comments on the Aviation Honours Program
  • “The Honours degree is perfect for anyone who wants to do academic [work] in the future. It is a fantastic experience to learn how to undertake research. It helped me to improve my communication skills, writing skills as well as my presentation skills. Doing Honours allowed me to meet new friends and colleagues, giving me opportunities to learn from others and grow closer.
    I truly believe that undertaking an honours degree helps me to get a firm foothold in my future study.â€

    Honours graduate, 2020

    Ìý

    "I guess the biggest skill developed for me was some programming skills which proves to be really useful in career. The experience to put some theory to test/ application was really wonderful as well. Another thing I find myself to have developed was the skill to manage myself throughout the project, both in learning and working through the project.
    My presentation skills were also vastly improved in the honours year too.Ìý
    Having an honours degree does kick start my career very well and is considered as an advantage over others who don’t for purpose of promotion and recruitment."

    Honours graduate, 2019

    Ìý

    "The Honours degree has opened the door to further academic study. It also gave me the opportunity to network with talented researchers and people from the industry (airports and airlines)."

    Honours graduate, 2019

    Ìý

    "Undertaking the Aviation Honours programme was one of the most rewarding experience for me during my time at Â鶹Éçmadou. Over the course of the programme, I discovered within myself an innate inclination towards research and data analytics. Candidates are free to choose from a vast array of academic dissertation topics, well-supervised by our panel of strong, passionate and welcoming academic professors. During my tenure,
    I was presented with the opportunity to delve into the application of Finance theory in Tourism - a bringing together of two extensive, overarching concepts. I was given first hand industry data to process, manipulate and analyse - an opportunity not many can say they have had.
    Apart from the vast exposures, candidates were also placed in a self-striving environment to hone and develop specific skills. Instilled within my candidateship is a unique strategic research and analytical proficiency that I can be sure to carry far into the course of my career. Having undertaken the Honours programme, I am confident knowing I have the skills employers are looking for. The doors of opportunity are open for me if I wish to go into research & academia, and wider still if I wanted to go into the workforce.
    Above all else, the close bond students share with their academic supervisor is by far the most fulfilling experience in their Honours year. The affinity transcends that of the professor-student relationship. My supervisor was my guardian and close confidante, always ready to assist and guide me towards accomplishing my model and thesis. Even beyond the scope of academics, my supervisor was present to provide sound advice. I am proud and pleased to have made a lifelong friend and mentor whom I can always call back on."

    Honours graduate, 2018

    Ìý

    "Honours year at Â鶹Éçmadou Aviation essentially ties everything you've learned from the Bachelor of Aviation together. In addition, it allowed me to hone both my quantitative and qualitative skills in research, data analysis and report writing. This opened up opportunities for me in the industry and provided me with a solid foundation to kick start my career."

    Honours graduate, 2017

    Ìý
  • “The skills [developed by the Aviation Honours Program] are what we look for in graduates / candidates as almost every role.
    Skills such asÌýproblem solving, working in a team,Ìýcollecting and analysing information, critical thinking,Ìýdesigning research to advance knowledge or address an issue, data analysis techniques and presenting information are particularly useful to strategic roles… where we’re… given a business/customer problem to solve. While time and project management are excellent general skills to have are there are always competing priorities that need to be managed and stakeholders to be managed.â€

    Cathy Ma, Qantas

    Ìý

    “[The Aviation Honours Program is of] value in helping to deepen specific areas of knowledge andÌýpresent as a bridge to the workforce and industry.â€

    Nathan Miller, Qantas