Jim Fawcett is a Lead Flight Test Engineer (LFTE) working for Airbus and based in Toulouse, France. He graduated from the French flight test academy EPNER in 2008. Since 2012 he has been a development LFTE specialising in flight management systems, communications (voice and datalink), cockpit design, display systems, and radio navigation. He is qualified to operate as LFTE on all Airbus aircraft types and has logged nearly 3000 hours on test flights. A member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Society of Flight Test Engineers (where he is a member of the Technical Council) and a UK Chartered Engineer, Jim also holds a private pilot’s licence.
Salvatore Nocerino was born in Naples, Italy, in 1975. He graduated in electrical engineering at the University of Naples, Italy, in 2000. From 2005 he joined in Leonardo Aircraft Division Company. He has over 15 years’ experience into the Static and Fatigue Lab testing of full-scale aerospace structure. The data acquisition system management is still one of his major skills. From 2020 his current interests include the structures/system testing integration. He takes on the role of technical lab manager for vibration and acoustic, electrical power generation and distribution, and fluid-dynamic test system. Finally, he conducts some innovative research activities in urban air mobility and regional aircraft.
Fernando Miro
Lead Propulsion Systems Engineer, Destinus
Fernando Miro is an Aerospace Engineer with a PhD degree in hypersonic aerothermodynamics. He graduated from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in 2014, and then conducted doctoral and postdoctoral research activities at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Belgium, and Texas A&M University’s Computational Stability and Transition Laboratory. At Destinus he leads the conceptual vehicle design team, as well as being involved in the development of various elements of the propulsion system.
Dr Josef Kallo
Founder & CEO, H2FLY
Matthew Scott
Principal Engineer, GE Aviation
Matthew Scott has worked for GE Aerospace for 20 years in Cincinnati, Ohio joining as an intern from after graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. During his time at GE Aerospace Matthew has worked on several major programs, specializing in data acquisition, instrumentation, stress measurement and advanced test technologies, before becoming principal engineer and streaming test analytics senior staff engineer.
Hugo Silva
System Engineering Team Lead, Daedalean
Hugo Silva is leading the systems engineer team at Daedalean, the company developing AI-based applications for situational intelligence in the cockpit. Prior to joining Daedalean, he worked at Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. as an avionics systems engineer for six years and served in the Portuguese Air Force for seven years in various roles, including avionics systems engineer and project manager. He holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering: Avionics from Academia da Força Aérea and an MBA from Instituto Superior de Gestão.
Raphael Rougeot
Systems engineer, European Space Agency
Raphael Rougeot has been working as mission system engineer within the Proba-3 project team for 6 years. Graduated in Space Engineering (MSc, ISAE-Supaero, Ecole Polytechnique) and Astrophysics (MRes, University Paul Sabatier) in France, he has started his career at the European Space Agency. Concurrently, he specialized in solar coronagraphy and wave optics by completing a PhD at the Observatory of Cote d’Azur, France.
Francois Plewinski
Associate Director, DAES
Francois Plewinski is associate Director of DAES, a Swiss engineering company specialized in numerical simulations of Multiphysics, where he manages the Innovation and R&D activities.
Before launching DAES in 2013, his background was in Big Science projects such ITER (the fusion project), working on the anti-seismic doctrine for nuclear buildings, the European Spallation Source (ESS, in Sweden), a multi-disciplinary research facility based on the world's most powerful neutron source, where he was the leader of the design team for Target Station, the nuclear heart of ESS, or The Nuclear experimental reactor of ILL (Institut Laue Langevin). He is also a private investor, jointly with other General mangers, for early-stage start-ups.
Academics: Nuclear Engineer (Atomic Engineering) - INSTN (Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires - Saclay) - Neutronics, Thermo-mechanical, mechanical, CFD First and Master's Degree in Physics - Science University (Tours - F) - Neutronics, Thermo-mechanical, mechanical, maths, energy, computing.
George Hajecek
Director of Business and Technology Development, MDS Aero
George holds the position of Director of Business and Technology Development at MDS Aero Support. MDS is a supplier of validation technology in the areas of aviation propulsion, and industrial power generation.
In his current role, George works with the Business Development team to integrate new capabilities related to decarbonization and reducing the carbon footprint of test facilities.
George has been with MDS since 1995 and has a broad background in both business development and engineering. George is a registered professional engineer and holds two masters degrees, as well as an undergraduate degree in engineering from Carleton University.
Gernot Pammer
Global Business Development Manager, Power Electronics Test Systems and Electrified Propulsion Test Systems, AVL
Gernot has 16 years of experience in Power Electronics Test Systems in non-automotive industries,. He is the IEEE P2004 HIL Group Chapter Leader: Power Amplifiers, Real Time Interfaces. He is responsible for tutorials and publications on international Power Electronics Congresses: PHIL (Power Hardware in the Loop), Impedance Spectroscopy, Stability of Power Grids
Émulateur d'onduleur PHIL comme système de test polyvalent pour AEPS
Cette présentation décrit l'AEPS hybride/électrique typique, décrit les types de dispositifs dans une architecture hybride électrique aep et phil (Power Hardware in the Loop), ainsi que quelques cas d'utilisation de la technologie.
Fabio di Lorenzo
Field Application Engineer, Vision Research
Fabio studied Mechatronics and Sensor-technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Saarbrücken, Germany, and received his Master’s degree in 2010.
He joined the Laboratory of Fluid Physics, Pattern Formation and Biocomplexity at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen, Germany, where he earned his doctorate in 2015. During his time in Göttingen, Fabio developed a system for the real-time image processing of data from High Speed Cameras and experimentally investigated the response of turbulent flows to varying forcing.
Since 2015, he has worked as a Field Application Engineer for Vision Research.
Lukas Wollenburg
Head of Test Services, Lilium
Lukas Wollenburg is an aerospace engineer with a degree from Aachen University, who joined the eVTOL startup Lilium 6.5 years ago. At Lilium, he was responsible for testing the electric propulsion system of the flight demonstrator Phoenix and the Lilium Jet aircraft. Lukas is now responsible for the development and management of all Lilium test infrastructure.
Darren England
Structures Test Engineer, Airbus
Darren is a Structures Test Engineer for Airbus, working in the state of the art AIRTeC testing facility in Filton, Bristol. I have 15 years experience in aerospace testing, with a wide background in the design of static and fatigue test structures.
Anthony Goff
Senior Industry Process Consultant, Dassault Systemes
Senior Industry Process Consultant for Dassault Systemes, SIMULIA. More than 20 years industry experience covering topics such as Test Data Management, Data Acquisition, Simulation Process Data Management, Signal Processing, Fatigue Analysis
David Menéndez
Head of Test Centre France, Airbus
Airbus has appointed David Menéndez as Head of Test Center France.
He is responsible for commercial aircraft and R&T structural testing, which includes engineering, data acquisition & control system, measurement, test leading, as well as training. The main mission is to support the Airbus aircraft certification.
David, 35, joined Airbus in 2010 and has held several leadership roles. He started his career at Airbus, as an Engineer. David then served as the Head of Ground Support Equipment at Airbus Defense & Space. He also held the leadership of the Aftermarket Maintenance Strategy spearheading business development activities for major Airbus aircraft programmes.
David holds degrees in Engineering and Master of Aeronautical and Aerospace from École nationale supérieure de l'aéronautique et de l'espace, E.T.S.I. Aeronáutica y del Espacio and Escuela de Ingenierías de León.
Dr Adam Harris
Global Chief of Test Facilities, Rolls-Royce
Dr. Harris is an accomplished aerospace testing specialist having held various roles within the industry at both Airbus and Goodrich over a career spanning nearly 30 years. He is currently the Global Chief of Test Facilities Engineering and Associate Engineering Fellow at Rolls-Royce Plc. Dr. Harris has played a significant role in the creation and development of gas turbine aero-engine test capabilities located around the globe over the past decade to enable the future generation of aerospace propulsion systems to be developed and certified.
Dr Ibrahim Sever
Global Chief of Measurement & Analysis, Rolls-Royce
Dr. Sever has received his BSc and MSc from METU in Ankara, Turkey and his PhD in Turbomachinery Blade Vibration from Imperial College London. He has been working for Rolls-Royce in Derby since 2004. His technical interests are model validation, damping estimation, nonlinear dynamics, full-field non-contact measurement systems, dynamics of composites, data analytics and digital signal processing amongst others. Dr. Sever is a Rolls-Royce Engineering Associate Fellow and the Global Chief of Measurement and Analysis. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in the UK.
Carmine Salzano
International Manager Aerospace & Defense and Test Sector, PCB Piezotronics
Carmine Salzano holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from University of Napoli (Italy). He was a professor at University of Salerno (Italy) in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department (2003), teaching noise and vibration control. Carmine has worked for over 30 years in the market of sensors and instrumentation. Presently, his title is International Manager at PCB Piezotronics, Inc., Aerospace & Defense and Test Sector.
Erik Goethert
Senior Director of Business Development & Strategic Marketing, United Electronic Industries (UEI)
Mr. Goethert is the Senior Director of Business Development & Strategic Marketing at United Electronic Industries (UEI) and has designed, managed, and implemented projects that collect real-world data for Aerospace, Energy, Défense industries so they can build smart systems that are reliable, flexible and rugged. He has more than 30 years of experience in industry-wide hardware, software and I/O application solutions. He has an engineering degree from Cornell University.
Tim Keller
COO of Flyable Products, Great River
Mr. Keller served on the original ARINC 818 committee and drafted key sections of the specification. He served as the Industry Editor for the ARINC 818-2 revision in 2013. Prior to joining Great River Technology in 2005, Mr. Keller worked for 16 years as a control systems engineer for real-time embedded systems at Honeywell.
Steve Summers
Director, Offering Management, NI
Steve Summers is a directing offering manager at NI focusing on mechanical systems and structural test for aerospace and defense customers. He earned a degree in Physics at Brigham Young University and has worked in roles as an application engineer, sales engineer, account owner, and product manager. He has worked in the test and measurement industry for more than 25 years and is passionate about providing a path to success for engineers driving the technologies of tomorrow. Steve Summers lives in Austin, Texas.
Mike Sneddon
Principal Systems Engineer, Atkins
Mike Sneddon with a career spanning over 40 years including 16 years as an RAF Engineer Officer (Aerosystems/Avionics), working at 1st and 2ndline, and then as the Tri-Service Engineering Authority for Night Vision Goggles and Forward looking Infra Red Sensors. Mike has been working as a Systems Engineer specialising in Integrated Test, Evaluation and Acceptance Planning for the last 25 years, initially with the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), then QinetiQ and since 2016 with Atkins, providing ITEA consultancy support to a wide variety of projects across Defence in the Land, Sea, Air, Weapons and C4I domains. Mike contributed to the UK MOD Knowledge in Defence guidance on Requirements and Acceptance and was a principal author of much of the guidance on ITEA planning. Mike is currently working on further updates to the KiD for MOD Finance and Military Capability, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (FMS RDT&E).
Christian Pastucha
Head of Aerospace Testing, SET
Christian has been involved in shaping the aerospace testing and aviation electronics development at SET for over 15 years. At SET, we have listened carefully to our customers in the aviation market and developed System On Demand (SoD), a product that meets their needs and fixes their pains: Time, TCOT, and flexibility. With SoD, the testing phase is no longer the critical stage of the project.
Nathan Nims
Business Manager, Digitalisation for Aerospace and Defence, NI
Nathan specialises in supporting aerospace and defence companies through test related digital transformation initiatives. He helps to identify solutions to complex challenges at A&D organisations which incorporates NI technology, best practise, and industry standards to improve and modernise test workflows, tools, and methodologies.
Nathan’s background is in Physics. He holds an PhD from Swansea University, UK with a specialism in nanotechnology.
Ben Richardson
Commercial Director, Filton Systems Engineering
Ben is one of the founders at Filton Systems Engineering. In addition to his role as Commercial Director, Ben supports technical areas including the development and certification of aircraft fuel systems, electrostatic discharge (ESD) & lightning, and alternative fuels including hydrogen.
Ben’s background is in Physics. He holds an BSc from the University of Southampton, UK
Klaus Lang
Business Development Manager eDrive, HBK
Klaus Lang studied Electrical Engineering at the University of the German Telekom in Dieburg. He joined GOULD INSTRUMENTS as a Product Specialist for paper recorders and digital data recorders. After the acquisition of GOULD by NICOLET he took over Product Management responsibilities for the NICOLET transient recorders and for digital storage oscilloscopes. After NICOLET becoming part of LDS, he was responsible for Product Marketing of NICOLET DAQ Systems, DACTRON Dynamic Signal Analyzers and LDS shakers. When HBM (now HBK) acquired LDS in 2009, he became Business Development Manager for “Electric Power Testing” ( = test systems for inverter controlled electrical machines). Since 2022 he is Head of Global Business Development for HBK.
Hitendra Hinrai
Sales Director and General Manager, Nottingham Drives Specialist Services
Dr Hirani leads the delivery of research and testing programmes in the Power Electronics and Machines Centre.
Dr Hitendra Hirani has worked closely with industry on topics such as automated assembly systems and aerospace technology developments since the turn of the Century. Through his activities focussed on large multinational and multidisciplinary programmes, he has served on key regional, national and international boards including the on Steering Committees for Airframe, Systems and Engines ITD and the Governing Board of the €4bn Clean Sky 2 programme, Midlands Aerospace Alliance Technology Development Group and on the Auto/Aero Regional Growth Forum. Hitendra now works closely with the Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre national initiative with key leaders from Universities, Catapult Centres and industry and is Director of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance.
Laurent Binet
Head of Research Unit RFDS, ONERA
Binet has been a research engineer at ONERA for 23 years in the Information Processing and Systems Department and Head of the Research Unit “Rotorcraft Flight Dynamics & Systems” at ONERA Salon de Provence.
His different research activities are dedicated to:
The development of pilot assistance systems and flight envelope protection functions, in particular through active inceptor technology.
I am responsible for a task dedicated to “eVTOL” flight control law developments in the framework of the US Army/DGA cooperation.
Binet is responsible for the Research Field 3 "Smart Rotorcraft" in the ONERA/DLR cooperation and as part of this cooperation, involved in a joint team studying helicopter augmented flight control laws and automatic modes for ship deck operations.
Binet is also in charge of the helicopter flight tests operated by DGA-EV (French Flight Test centre) for ONERA.
In relation to the subject matter of the project, I have been involved in all flight test programmes performed with DGA-EV on vortex since 2000. I was also involved in theoretical studies and the development of vortex domain prediction criterion and vortex warning and avoidance systems
Andy Williamson
Business Development Director, Element
Andrew is the commercial manager for Element Material technologies Digital Engineering division. Element Digital Engineering are a global team of experts with deep technical expertise in engineering, applied mathematics, and technical software. We leverage data, mathematics, and digital tools to provide insights and innovative solutions for today’s most complex engineering and technology challenges.
James Buzzell
Assistant Branch Chief of the Valves, Actuators and Duct Design and Development Branch, NASA
Mr. Buzzell has been an Aerospace Engineer at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center for the past 22 years with 34 years’ experience in liquid rocket propulsion systems. Currently Mr. Buzzell is the Assistant Branch Chief of the Valves, Actuators and Duct Design and Development Branch within the Engineer Propulsion Systems Department, managing the Component Development Area (CDA), which designs, fabricates and conducts development, qualification and flights acceptance tests on valves, actuators, ducts and other various components for liquid rocket engines, stages and payloads. Prior to this current role, Mr. Buzzell was the Propulsion Lead System Engineer for the Human Landing System and the Sub-System Manager of Combustion Devices on the Commercial Crew Program Launch Vehicle Team. During the Ares Program, Mr. Buzzell was the Assistant Chief Engineer on the J-2X Engine program. Prior to that, Mr. Buzzell was the Ares upper stage liquid system lead engineer for the main propulsion system and was the Engine System Lead for the Integrated Powerhead Demonstration engine test program (LOX-LH2, 250Klbf full-flow staged-combustion engine tested at E-complex at Stennis Space Center). Mr. Buzzell was the propulsion system lead on 3rd-generation Vision Vehicle conceptual studies, including hypersonic propulsion engines for single and dual-stage-to-orbit vehicles. Mr. Buzzell was the test lead on the Integrated Systems Test of an Airbreathing Rocket (ISTAR) project. Prior to coming to NASA, Mr. Buzzell was a Test Engineer at the Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory, testing RS-27, MA-5/5A, RS-86, and NASA FASTRAC liquid engines for 10.5 years. Mr. Buzzell has a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Mr. Buzzell is married and has two adult children.
Darryn La Zar
Senior Director Business Development, ACS
Darryn La Zar, Senior Director for Business Development, joined ACS in 2017 and leads our business development efforts within our Space, Aerospace, and Defense sector as well as Data Acquisition and Real-time Control, and related Electrification efforts. He collaborates with internal engineering teams and industry partners to provide solutions based on unique client requirements for complex test facilities, custom engineered test equipment, software, and real-time control solutions.
Darryn’s career spans more than thirty years in R & D engineering, marketing, technical sales, senior management and ownership roles with organizations that provide clients with custom test and automation equipment, process controls, and real-time controls and data acquisition. Darryn studied at Oakland University and has a distinguished twelve-year military career in the US Army.
Bruno Dahan
Deputy Director Aeronautics Strategic Sector, Aerospace Valley
Bruno Dahan joined Aerospace Valley, the local competitive cluster cluster in the aerospace sector serving 3 strategic sectors in Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée & Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions more than two years ago. Previous to this, he worked for Airbus for more than 20 years in senior technical and managerial positions.
Don Pereira
Senior Technical Sales Engineer, MDS Aero
Don is a registered Professional Engineer with 37 years of experience in both commercial and military aero engine testing. In his current role he is a Senior Technical Sales Engineer at MDS Aero Support. Other roles during 26 years with MDS include Business Development Account Executive, DAS Product Line Manager, General Manager at the GLACIER Test Facility in Thompson, MB Canada and Chief Engineer of the Applications Engineering Department.
He has expertise in defining and adapting aero engine measurement and test technologies to fit the specific requirements of test vehicles and their test objectives.