Education

Faculty members affiliated with the Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment are committed to educating the next generation of research and industry leaders who will advance the sustainability of aviation. Courses relevant to aviation’s environmental impacts offered by lab-affiliated faculty include:

  • MIT graduate subject 16.715 Aerospace, Energy, and the Environment
    Addresses energy and environmental challenges facing aerospace in the 21st century. Topics include: aircraft performance and energy requirements, propulsion technologies, jet fuels and alternative fuels, lifecycle assessment of fuels, combustion, emissions, climate change due to aviation, aircraft contrails, air pollution impacts of aviation, impacts of supersonic aircraft, and aviation noise. Includes an in-depth introduction to the relevant atmospheric and combustion physics and chemistry with no prior knowledge assumed. Discussion and analysis of near-term technological, fuel-based, regulatory and operational mitigation options for aviation, and longer-term technical possibilities.
    Instructor: Prof. S. Barrett 
  • MIT graduate subject 16.72 Air Traffic Control
    Introduces the various aspects of present and future Air Traffic Control systems. Descriptions of the present system: systems-analysis approach to problems of capacity and safety; surveillance, including NAS and ARTS; navigation subsystem technology; aircraft guidance and control; communications; collision avoidance systems; sequencing and spacing in terminal areas; future directions and development; critical discussion of past proposals and of probable future problem areas. Requires term paper.
    Instructor: Prof. H. Balakrishnan
  • MIT graduate subject 16.886J Air Transportation Systems Architecting 
    Addresses the architecting of air transportation systems. Focuses on the conceptual phase of product definition including technical, economic, market, environmental, regulatory, legal, manufacturing, and societal factors. Centers on a realistic system case study and includes a number of lectures from industry and government. Past examples include the Very Large Transport Aircraft, a Supersonic Business Jet and a Next Generation Cargo System. Identifies the critical system level issues and analyzes them in depth via student team projects and individual assignments. Overall goal is to produce a business plan and a system specifications document that can be used to assess candidate systems.
    Instructor: Prof. R. J. Hansman
  • MIT undergraduate professional area subject 16.50 Aerospace Propulsion
    Presents aerospace propulsive devices as systems, with functional requirements and engineering and environmental limitations. Requirements and limitations that constrain design choices. Both air-breathing and rocket engines covered, at a level which enables rational integration of the propulsive system into an overall vehicle design. Mission analysis, fundamental performance relations, and exemplary design solutions presented.
    Instructor: Prof. S. Barrett

Further information is available at the MIT course catalogue.