Engineering safer airspace with Ella Atkins

Ella Atkins joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of air travel safety. She explained the differences between Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and the challenges posed by having two sets of rules in the same airspace. Atkins also discussed the recent incidents involving aircraft collisions and the technological advancements that could enhance safety, which include updating methods of data sharing and the use of automated systems.Ella Atkins is head of the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and Fred D. Durham Chair in Engineering at Virginia Tech. Her research centers on the investigation of airspace and aircraft autonomy and safety, and she is also a licensed private pilot.