Boarding a plane reminds you of how much effort is made to ensure wellbeing at all times. Research on safety avionics for commercial aircraft continues and the University of Malta and Air Malta plc are participating in a consortium, headed by the Thales Avionics group, of 35 leading industry and research organisations in a project called FLYSAFE funded by the EU’s FP6 programme. Partners include BAE Systems, Airbus, Rockwell Collins, Diehl Avionics, DLR, NLR, UK Meteo, Cranfield University and Darmstadt University.

The four-year long project, which is expected to conclude in 2009, is tackling three types of common hazard sources in a bid to make flying holistically safer. The total value of the project proposal was in excess of €50 million. The University of Malta, together with Cranfield University, is responsible for the development of warning systems for crews in case of an immediate collision danger on the ground or in the airport terminal area.

Dr. Ing. David Zammit Mangion from the Faculty of Engineering describes participation as "hard work but extremely rewarding" with good planning.

Air Malta, on its part, is providing end-user input – a crucial contribution to the success of the programme. The participation of the University of Malta, Air Malta and Cranfield University is worth €1.3 million.

Next time you travel by air or watch a plane you may comfort yourself with the knowledge that the next generation of safety systems are being researched now.