Primary

Supervi
sor
Paul
Constable
1
2
3
4
Alun
Griffiths
1
2

4
5

Ian Collins
1
2
3

Dissertation Topics 2015-2016

2nd
Supervisor

Investigate the effects of air pollution from on board air conditioning systems on
passengers and crew and how maintenance systems affect this.
Investigate the design and benefits of air conditioning systems for the future generation of
aircraft and their maintenance implications.
Research the methods used to detect fire and smoke conditions on future passenger
carrying aircraft and how they impact servicing schedules.
Investigate the possibility of removing pitot static inputs into fly by wire aircraft and
describe the maintenance implications that develop.
Investigate how software is authorised for use on board an aircraft including the design
cycle, management/update process and relevant legislation and how it interacts with
other aircraft systems.
Describe the evolution of aircraft In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems including the
technology utilised in the latest aircraft. Are passengers influenced by the quality of IFE
as to their choice of aircraft or airline?
Investigate how Portable Electronic Devices (PED) such as laptops and mobile phones can
interfere with on-board systems and affect flight safety. How have aircraft manufacturers
dealt with this potential hazard?
Investigate the increasing use of fibre-optic cables in aircraft. How has the change from
copper to fibre cables affected the maintenance of aircraft?
Have compass-based navigation systems become redundant with the rise of Inertial
Reference Systems and GPS? What would be the effects on flight safety and maintenance
if compass systems were no longer used?
Investigate the development of autopilot and the benefits created for the pilots workload,
passengers comfort and flight safety.
Investigate the use of aircraft RF transmission systems and technologies and the impact
on Health and Safety procedures.
Investigate the evolution of EWIS and how it is affecting maintenance policies and

Bethan

Mike

Mike

4
5
Jason
Blackwell
1
2
3
4
5
Matin
Sims
1
2

3
4
5
Bethan
Llewellyn

procedures.
Investigate the evolution of Inertial Navigation and any future developments and how it
benefits the pilot with regard to workload and flight plan accuracy.
Investigate advancements in weather radar systems, their impact on flight safety, hazards
and reduction of air incidents.
Research the evolution of electrical wiring used in aviation from its earliest use to its
current use in modern aircraft and how this has affected maintenance activities. What
future developments can you foresee?
Investigate the advent of Integrated Modular Avionics - benefits, drawbacks and other
issues. What does this mean for current and future maintenance programmes?
Compare and contrast the regulatory approaches taken by EASA and the FAA to the
certification of maintenance personnel.
Investigate how wireless technology has been implemented by MRO's and the impact it
has had on maintenance activities.
Investigate whether advances in Avionics has improved flight safety and in which areas
this has been most apparent. Have these advances simplified maintenance?
Consider current AME MRO management systems and explore advances in MRO
management techniques within industrial / production engineering and review whether
improvements could be attained within AME by adopting some of these
Explore the current MRO requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles; investigate how a
MRO would need to adapt to accept UAVs and whether the developing UAV maintenance
information systems could be utilised to improve existing air transport maintenance
operations.
Investigate the current cockpit display technology used in modern airliners and explore
how current advances in display devices and HUDs could improve flight safety
Investigate current research on electric powered aircraft and how such developments
could affect aircraft maintenance operations
Investigate the issues involved with setting up a maintenance operation for a previously
retired advanced engineered aircraft
Aircraft Tracking: Whats next? How can technological advances improve flight safety and
how will it be maintained.

Bethan

Bethan

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2
3
4
5
Craig
Thomas
1
2
3
4
Jon McGee
1
2
3
4
5
Richard
Grant
1
2
3

The Future of Aircraft Fuel Saving Systems. What feasible technologies are there and how
will they effect maintenance operations.
Greening of Aviation. What can be done and what is being done to minimise its affects in
the maintenance sector.
There is growing pressure on engineers to become multidiscipline. What effect will this
have on the maintenance industry?
Data acquisition technology is having a major impact across all sectors of the industry.
How is it impacting/enhancing the maintenance sector?
Servicing & Maintaining an aircraft in hostile natural environments Jungle Region

Servicing & Maintaining an aircraft in hostile natural environments Arctic Region

Servicing & Maintaining an aircraft in hostile natural environments Arid Region
Servicing & Maintaining an aircraft in hostile natural environments Aquatic Operations
Setting up an EASA Part 147 Training Organisation to meet the demands of the aerospace
maintenance industry#1
Setting up an EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organisation to comply with current aerospace
maintenance practices- Boeing 737 aircraft
Setting up an EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organisation to comply with current aerospace
maintenance practices- CFM-56 engines
Rapid/Expedient repair of conventional and composite aircraft structure
Setting up an EASA Part 147 Training Organisation to meet the demands of the aerospace
maintenance industry#2
A Century of Flight. Investigate the feasibility of building a World War 1 aeroplane today
and how would you make it meet modern maintenance standards?
Composite Repair. Investigate the differing results of a second impact on Scarf v Step WetLayup repairs.
A Century of Flight. Is there a better way to repair wooden structure using modern
materials v traditional/historic repairs?

Paul

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5
Stephen
Union
1
2
3
4
Willian
Mckee
1
2
3
4
5
Emily
Simba
1
2
3
4
5
Lalita
Gandhi

Composite Repair. Investigate the requirements, legal and financial, of setting up an

Advanced Composite Repair training centre.
A Century of Flight. Would it be better for the environment to update and re-use older
aircraft and what effect would that have on maintenance and safety?
Investigate the need for a quality promotion programme in aircraft production. Explain
what are faults, the reason for them and how to avoid them.

Ade

Investigate the birth till death principle in aircraft engineering. What impact will it have to
the environment, legislation, production and industry?
investigate Safety Management - Research the Tools and Methods used
The Aircraft Maintenance Program and its importance on Continuing Airworthiness
Management
Metallic Aircraft Repair: Adhesively Bonded Repair Versus Mechanical Repair

Propeller Maintenance and Structural Health Monitoring

Advances in Aircraft Wing Skin Structure and the Implications on Aircraft Maintenance
Aging Aircraft: Maintenance and Flight Safety Implications
Aircraft Husbandry and the impact on corrosion control
Aircraft communication technology and safety

Management of aircraft pollutants in a maintenance environment.

Discuss the development of aircraft control surfaces and evaluate the future of the flying
wing
Analyse the operation of generators, voltage regulation & their application in aircraft
systems
Investigate the use of batteries in Aircraft, explore its advances and the impact it will have
in a maintenance organisation.
Investigate and evaluate the impact of aircraft de-icing on aircraft safety and the
servicing challenges it brings.

Ade

Bethan

Will
JB
Mike
Will

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2
3
4
Kunalan
Marimuth
u 1
2
3
4
5
Adrian
Pitman
1
2
3
4
5
Michael
Bates
1
2
3
4

Conduct a gap analysis of an EASA part 147 training organisation safety using ICAO SMS
perspectives to improve Aircraft Maintenace Engineering Training.
Implemanting an innovative idea of an EASA part 147 training organisation in safety
prospect in order to refubrish the Aircraft Maintenace Engineering Training.
Discuss and assess the advances in security systems for operators and aircraft and the
impact this has on maintenance.
Investigate good practices to reduce FOD ingestion incidents in aircraft engines during
maintenance activities and ground operations.

Steve

Student Proposals
Student Proposals
Student Proposals
Student Proposals
Emerging Technologies: Investigate tiltrotor development including performance
enhancements and innovations

Craig
Bethan
Bethan
Bethan

Emerging Technologies: UAV propulsion systems and their maintenance

Emerging Technologies; Electrically Powered Flight and how this technology will effect
Aircraft Maintenance
Emerging Technologies; Unmanned Aerial Systems in Civilian Applications, the
maintenance challenges and legislation
Investigate the challenges of maintaining a vintage aircraft fleet
Investigate whether low orbital flight will replace long-haul flight in the near future and
what maintenance challenges will it present?

Will
Mike

Investigate alternative fuels? Is it a viable alternative to fossil fuel and how will it be
maintained?
Investigate whether fly-by-wireless is the future for aircraft systems?
Investigate whether fly-by-light is the future for aircraft systems and how it will affect
traditional maintenance practices?

Ade

Steve
Emily
Craig

Steve
Richy
Ade

Alun

5
Gary
Dornan
1
2
3
4
5
Martin
Njihia
1
2
3
4
5
Rukshan
Navarante
1
2
3
4
5
Ilias
Lappas
1

Investigate what system will replace fly-by-wire on future aircraft and what maintenance
challenges will it present?
Composite Bonding - Experimental. Construct a series of tests with analysis on bonded
composite carbon fibre panels.
Health & Safety Management in Aircraft Maintenance. (Practical assessment - Noise) BSc
Environmental Strategies, Present Scenario and Future Trends & Action Plans for the
Aviation Industry (Industrial Case Study/ Theoretical) -BSc
Tool Drop Analysis Experimental. Construct a series of tests with analysis on composite
carbon fibre panels that have been impacted with standard hand tools.
Study into the construction of bonded composite assembly for aircraft structures and
subsequent strength analysis ( Experimental) - BSc
Global Conflicts: The effect on maintenance personnel and organisations.

Working Models and Competition: Are MROs engaging innovation?

Performance Matrics Analysis for Learning in Aircraft Maintenance.
A topographical analysis of leadership within aircraft maintenance and related
organizations.

Emily

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4
5