23 June 2009

Queensland University takes off with Airbus prize

PARIS - A team of students from the University of Queensland has won the inaugural Airbus Ã¢â¬ÅâœFly Your IdeasÃ¢â¬~ challenge.

The Ã¢â¬ÅâœCOzÃ¢â¬~ team won for its project into the use of the castor plant to develop the first single plant-based high performance composite materials for aircraft cabin components.

The goal is to reduce dependency on non-renewable sources and improve end of life disposal thus contributing to a reduction of aviation carbon footprint.

They conducted a comprehensive feasibility analysis entailing fibre production and testing, demonstrating very encouraging mechanical and environmental properties.

The multinational "COz" team comprises team leader, Michael Heitzmann (27), of Swiss origin and Alex Ng (25), originally from Hong Kong, both PhD students in mechanical engineering, and third team member, Benjamin Lindenberger (26), from Germany, an aerospace engineering student who is undertaking his University of Stuttgart diploma thesis at the University of Queensland.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe wanted to demonstrate that composite materials made entirely with castor plant fibre can reduce the aircraft carbon footprint and enhance environmental protection. We hope it will have a future in aviation.Ã¢â¬~ said Heitzmann.

Tom Enders, president and CEO of Airbus, awarded the Ã¢'š~¬30,000 winnersÃ¢â¬â¢ prize to the University of Queensland team.

Second place and a prize of Ã¢'š~¬15,000 went to the team from the National University of Singapore, Ã¢â¬ÅâœSolaire VoyagerÃ¢â¬~, for its proposal to use solar cell technology integrating photovoltaic cells aboard aircraft to generate electricity.

More than 2,350 students from 82 countries around the world entered the competition, which started nine months ago.

The studentsÃ¢â¬â¢ objective was to come up with innovative and eco efficient ideas to shape the future of aviation, and deliver a further reduction in the industryÃ¢â¬â¢s impact on the environment.