Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh successfully concluded its Industry-Academia Interaction week during September 23-27, 2024. Department of Aerospace engineering of PEC also organized Industry Academia Expert Lecture Week by inviting experts from diverse fields of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation such as Sh. Aurobindo Handa (former Director General, AAIB, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India), Sh. Kulinder P. Singh (INSA Senior Scientist, Mumbai), Sh. Vivek Kalotra (Regional Director, CEMILAC, Chd), Dr R.S. Pant (Ex-HAL and Professor – IIT Bombay) and Sh. Vikrant Satya (Former Scientist and Project Director, DRDO). The week-long series of lectures addressed critical topics in aerospace engineering, providing valuable insights into emerging challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Sh. Aurobindo Handa (Ex-Director General, AIIB) set the stage on September 23, 2024, with a thought-provoking talk on “Aviation: Opportunities & Challenges.” His presentation explored the current state of the aviation industry, emphasizing key opportunities and challenges faced by the sector in India and globally.
On September 24, 2024, Sh. Kulinder P. Singh (INSA Senior Scientist) delivered an engaging lecture on “Making an X-ray Telescope for India's First Observatory in Space, Mumbai.” He provided a comprehensive overview of India's space observatory efforts, highlighting the engineering challenges and innovations involved in the project.
Sh. Vivek Kalotra (Regional Director, CEMILAC, Chandigarh) spoke on “Airworthiness Certification of Military Air Systems & Airborne Stores” on the same day. His session emphasized the critical role that airworthiness certification plays in the operational success of military aircraft.
In an online session on September 26, 2024, Dr. R.S. Pant (Ex-HAL, Professor IITB, Mumbai) discussed “Periodical Flight Testing of a Frontline Strike Bomber Aircraft.” He shared his experiences in the critical role of testing and fine-tuning bomber aircraft to meet stringent operational requirements.
The event concluded on September 27, 2024, with Sh. Vikrant Satya (Ex-TBRL, DRDO) discussing “Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Technology Perspective.” His lecture highlighted the latest technological advancements and challenges in the design and operation of UAVs, focusing on their growing importance across sectors.
Each speaker received mementos as a token of appreciation from Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, PEC, Chandigarh. The Industry-Academia Week served as an exceptional platform for exchanging knowledge and fostering collaboration between academia and the aerospace industry. The Aerospace Engineering Department at PEC remains committed to driving innovation and excellence in aerospace education and research.
