Annual Review Annual 2018 2018 Annual Review Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Aeronautical Society / 2018 Annual Review CONTENTS President’s Introduction 2 Headquarters Chief Executive's Foreword 3 Royal Aeronautical Society No.4 Hamilton Place Raising Aspirations through Aviation 5 London W1J 7BQ United Kingdom Strategy 7 T +44 (0)20 7670 4300 E [email protected] Membership 8 www.aerosociety.com Find us on facebook.com Knowledge 15 Follow us on twitter.com/@aerosociety and @RAeSTimR Join us on LinkedIn Outreach and Skills 17 National Aerospace Library Honours, Medals & Awards 22 The Hub Fowler Avenue Farnborough Business Park Review of Operations 25 Hampshire GU14 7JP United Kingdom T +44 (0)1252 701038 or 701060 E [email protected] Publisher Royal Aeronautical Society 1 April 2019 President’s Introduction I always find No.4 Hamilton Place to be welcoming ever more cost-effective ways of exploiting the and a great place to soak up the history of space domain. aviation, surrounded by memorabilia and portraits If the Society is to be as influential in 2019 portraying the people and the events telling the as it was in those early years, we need to ensure story of flight, and that of the Society. I commend that we are working in those areas which will be Almost any perusal of the history of the Society (published making a difference. Our learned output needs to of the likely on the RAeS website) to refresh your memory on cover the topics which are impacting on aerospace outcomes the influence and currency of the members and in the next few years. Our Specialist Groups activities of the Society down the years. and Conferences must be forward looking. Our of Brexit 2019 will undoubtedly be a year of huge Professional Standards must be seen as providing will have change for aviation and aerospace. Almost meaningful qualifications which are relevant and any of the likely outcomes of Brexit will have sought after by industry as part of developing and significant significant impact across all areas of our sector. measuring the capabilities of their workforce. impact Unmanned air vehicles will continue to have huge All of the above is an invitation to every single influence on the future shape, technology, and member to get involved with some aspect of across all regulation of aerospace. Artificial intelligence the Society. Every one of us has something to areas of our will pervade in every corner of our business, from contribute, young or old, and from whatever part design, validation, and manufacture through to of the broad church of aeronautics and space. This sector day-to-day operations and scheduling of flights. handbook will hopefully give you some ideas of New industrial processes, such as additive layer how you might join in, and I commend it to all our manufacturing combined with new materials, will staff and members. allow us to build using previously unachievable shapes and tolerances allowing radical designs. Rear Admiral Simon Henley Our exploration of space will continue, along with MBE CEng RPP FRAeS FAPM 2 Royal Aeronautical Society / 2018 Annual Review Chief Executive’s Foreword There is little doubt that 2018 will go down in history as one of the most politically turbulent years in recent history. Brexit has absorbed much of the UK Government's attention and dominated both the Parliamentary agenda and the media’s interest in events. Consequently, the Society has been in demand for advice and perspectives on the implications. Yet 2018 also saw major progress in a number of significant aviation and aerospace endeavours. The welcome release of the Aerospace Sector Deal demonstrated the firm intent shared by government and industry to transform the sector by funding research and development in a number of novel technologies that will have a huge impact Chief Executive of the RAeS, Sir Brian Burridge KCB CBE ADC on the air travel experience of tomorrow. On the FCMI FRAeS, accompanies Leanne Caret, President and CEO, Publication defence side, the publication of the MoD’s Combat Boeing Defense, Space and Security at the 2018 Wilbur and of the MoD’s Air Strategy – in which the Society had a hand Orville Wright Lecture. Combat Air – represents another firm statement of intent to work in partnership with industry to preserve Strategy – in our indigenous capability in complex design and which the integration of fast-jet aircraft. The creation of Team Society had Tempest with its pursuit of a number of technology a hand – investigations is a tangible manifestation of this. represents The related announcements put a real spring in the step of those at July’s Farnborough International another firm Airshow, as did the many examples of autonomy, statement of electric propulsion and the much-invigorated Space intent to work Zone. The forward-looking events associated with in partnership RAF 100, clarity over a future UK spaceport and The RAeS Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Group briefing the with industry further legislative action on drones – again, in which Shadow Aviation Minister. the Society was involved – added to the sense that to preserve 2018 was something of a watershed. our indigenous In the Royal Aeronautical Society, we cannot a passion for technology to help us accelerate capability in be mere interested observers of these profound innovation and hone our competitive edge. We also complex design changes. Rather, 2019 will see us on the front need to continue to generate increased fascination and integration foot, enhancing our profile and relevance through with the STEM subjects in schools, particularly at our willingness to answer the hard questions primary level. The Society takes its responsibilities of fast-jet associated with the application of new technology in this area very seriously and our Careers, aircraft to our sectors. When? Why? How much? Is it safe? Outreach and Skills team spared no effort during We are well-placed to discharge this role given 2018 through aspects such as their relentless HRH The Duke and the extensive ‘body-of-knowledge’ over which we attendance at national careers events, the Cool Duchess of Sussex at exercise stewardship, and which is being extended Aeronautics programme with primary schools and the CHOGM Women's Empowerment daily by our Specialist Groups. These same themes through the Careers in Aerospace website and reception hosted will also permeate our Continuing Professional Career Flightpath magazine. In addition, 2018 by former Foreign Development agenda and conference programme also saw us renew our Engineering Council licence Secretary Boris Johnson at the but will also be reflected in our open lectures both that allows us to provide accreditation of degree RAeS HQ. here at Hamilton Place and at our Branches which, courses and registration for professional engineers. UK Gov collectively, represent the engine-room of our Related to this, a new and welcome development is delivery of public benefit. our role in providing End Point Assessment for the However, success in our sectors will be elusive suite of Trailblazer Apprenticeships in aerospace unless we attract into our business increased and airworthiness from Level 3 to Level 7. Of note, numbers of highly-motivated young people with the Level 3 Engineering Technician qualification is a curiosity for aviation. We need to promote the a vital aspect in enriching apprenticeships and in excitement and even glamour that is inherent in demonstrating their relevance to both industry and this new era so that we attract creative minds with to potential applicants. 3 Royal Aeronautical Society / 2018 Annual Review More broadly, our membership grew to 24,833 the significant lift in its impact factor. In this respect, individual members with a cohort of over 250 we are indebted to our cohort of some 36 Associate Corporate Partners and our finance continues on Editors who are senior academics, each with their a firm footing. We also continue to work hard on group of peer reviewers who maintain the publication our international outreach both with our overseas standards of the Journal. Divisions and Branches but also through new Overall, there has been continuing success initiatives such as the MoU, recently signed with the throughout 2018 but I can take no personal credit Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics whatsoever given my recent arrival. Rather, this (CSAA). Our Conference and Events team delivered represents the combined and relentless effort of over 100 events of which 30 were conferences the staff here at Hamilton Place whose dedication, or seminars and at which we saw a welcome 6% professionalism and energy provides the momentum increase in attendances while our podcasts and that has taken us through a year of continuous videos are proving increasingly popular. Our flagship improvement. I find these attributes are not solely publication, AEROSPACE, goes from strength-to- confined to our senior and more experienced strength, particularly through its web presentation staff: our younger and perhaps less experienced and the associated blog. The National Aerospace team members demonstrate precisely the same Library has also been capitalising on these additional approach whilst bringing a welcome degree of channels by which to reach our community. The challenge to acceptance of the status quo. I know new e-books service and a range of podcasts, that my predecessor felt the same and I pay tribute including some of the Society’s most significant to his relentless efforts over nine years to move lectures of the past, are proving to be very popular. the Society forward by creating a legacy based on The Aeronautical Journal is also fundamental to greater international reach, rigorous governance our reputation as a learned society. The Journal and disciplined financial control. What more could a received its greatest number of submissions ever new Chief Executive wish to inherit! during 2018 and printed a record number of pages of research without sacrificing quality, evidenced by Sir Brian Burridge FRAeS President 2018 – 2019 Rear Admiral Simon Michael Henley MBE CEng RPP FRAeS FAPM Simon was educated at Collyers Grammar School Horsham.