Airbus has selected 100 student teams, out of 600, from across five continents who will continue in the 2013 "Fly Your Ideas" challenge. Among those selected are two teams from the United States, one of which is from the Georgia Institute of Technology, while the other is from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The Georgia Tech Team, named Aiolos (ruler of the wind in Greek mythology), is composed of aerospace graduate students. They are shown here with their advisor, Prof. Dimitri Mavris. (L-R Frederic Allair, Christopher Frank (team captain), Prof. Dimitri Mavris (Advisor), William Levy and Jean-Guillames Durand).

Their project, in the energy category, is EconEcT (Environmentally Conscious and Economically viable Technologies), which is an integrated design solution focused around the landing gear.  The GT students are working to reduce energy consumption and emissions around the airport property by storing unused energy for further exploitation, but also by improving one of the aircraft weak points: its landing gear.  The teams have until April 2013 to explore, test and develop their concepts.  Dr. Dimitri Mavris, professor of Aerospace Engineering and director of the Aerospace Systems Design Lab, is the faculty advisor to the team.  While the idea remains in the hands of the students, an Airbus mentor and expert have been assigned to each team to support, inspire and challenge the competitors.

"Not only did Georgia Institute of Technology and the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory make us grasp the necessary capabilities to tackle the Fly Your Ideas Team challenge, but it also empowered us with skills required at an International level," said Frank.  "The Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory was indeed all the more paramount as it offered us the ideal environment in terms of cutting edge engineering facilities.  Also, there is no doubt in our minds that Professor Mavris' classes on Aircraft Design and Advanced Design Methods provided us with a relevant overview of the current challenges and a desirable understanding of the way to carry out a project from requirements identification to the detailed design of the system."

The students are battling it out to be one of the five final teams to present their idea to a panel of Airbus and industry experts at Airbus in Hamburg, Germany in June 2013.  The Awards Ceremony will take place in Paris at the UNESCO headquarters.  At stake, are the first prize of €30,000 and the opportunity for the winning team to host an 'innovation week' on campus run by Airbus experts.  The runner up team wins €15,000.

"Fly Your Ideas offers a unique opportunity for the students involved to gain valuable insight into this cutting-edge industry which today supports over 56 million jobs and 35% of global trade," explained Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Engineering and Patron of Fly Your Ideas.  "I am delighted to see the enthusiasm of the teams and our Airbus experts who are committed to sharing their know-how with these students from around the world who are the innovators of the future."

Find out more and follow the activity of each team at www.airbus-fyi.com

Meet the Airbus Team from Georgia Tech

Christopher Frank: Team captain, business and economics study.  Age 22.  School of origin: SUPAERO-ISAE (Institute Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace), Toulouse, FRANCE.  Academic interest: Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics.  Hobbies: Soccer, aviation.

Jean-Guillaume Durand:  In charge of landing gear fairings study.  Age 23.  School of origin: SUPAERO-ISAE (Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace), Toulouse, FRANCE.  Academic interest: Flight Mechanics and Control.  Hobbies:  Basketball, listening to music.

Frederic Allair:  In charge of energy storage technologies.  Age 21.  School of origin: SUPAERO-ISAE (Institut Superieur de l"Aeronautique et de l'Espace), Toulouse, FRANCE.  Academic interest: Structure and Propulsion.  Hobbies:  Aviation photography, video editing.

William Levy:  In charge of electrical motors study.  Age 23.  School of origin:  SUPLEC- Paris, FRANCE.  Academic interests: Electrotechnics and energy systems.  Hobbies:  Tennis, playing the piano and anthropology.