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Admissions

Flight Performance and Safety

From the complex modeling, controls and algorithms and advanced sensing capabilities of an aircraft to the materials and structures to achieve lightness and aerodynamics, we work on all of the major systems to ensure safety, durability, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency and ease of control and operation to benefit manufacturers, operators and passengers. We count the Federal Aviation Administration as a partner in many research projects.

Related News

Charlie Higgins headshot

Mon, 07/21/2025

From wind shear to security: Charlie Higgins' legacy of aviation safety

Charlie Higgins (BSAA '71) transformed aviation safety through industry collaboration, from wind shear to 9/11.

Mira Tipirneni headshot

Mon, 03/03/2025

Digital tools to combat rain erosion captures Varanasi Fellowship

PhD student Mira Tipirneni develops computational models to predict and combat aircraft surface damage from rain.

Marco Salviato in front of composites equipment

Sat, 01/25/2025 | The Seattle Times

Spokane facility gets $48M to boost thermoplastic research for planes

A&A professor's research on lightweight aircraft materials helps secure major CHIPS Act funding for Spokane facility.

Aerodynamic aircraft model with colored smoke trails illustrating airflow patterns

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The fluid mechanics anomaly we can’t dismiss anymore

Sounding the alarm on asymmetric flows, long dismissed as experimental errors, as critical to predict for flight safety.