Heathrow encourages next generation at Bucks New Uni
The IT Futures Manager at Heathrow Airport, Steve Armitage, says he hopes he has helped inspire a new generation of staff after giving a talk at Bucks New University on its future, to students studying a range of aviation and tourism courses.
Above:
Ash Mistry and Dr David Warnock-Smith of Bucks New University; Steve Armitage and Dauda Hamzat of Bucks New University.
Steve Armitage spoke at the University’s Uxbridge Campus about ‘Airport ‘Futures’ - ‘Megatrends and the impact on the airports of the future’, covering artificial intelligence, augmented reality and automation.
Students travelled from their base at the High Wycombe campus to hear the talk and it is intended that further aviation related talks and activity will take place at Uxbridge, which is just six miles from Heathrow.
Mr Armitage said: “I have loved my career at the airport and so really relished sharing it with others and hope they find something as rewarding I have. Heathrow has a great future and we need the next generation to help shape it.”
Dr David Warnock-Smith, Director of Aviation, Events & Tourism, said: “Students gained a great insight into key technology trends and how airports like Heathrow are incorporating technologies for the benefit of customers.
“Students found the talk thought-provoking and asked Steve some intriguing questions at the end.”
Bucks New University BSc (Hons) Air Transport with Commercial Pilot Training student Nicola Avitabile said: “The talk was truly a magnificent insight at how far not only Heathrow has come in the past few decades, but also the rest of the aviation industry as a whole and the technology advancements that comes with it.
“As up-and-coming commercial pilots this talk gave us an idea of what the future holds when we may enter the industry and helped put in perspective how fast the aviation business is really moving and in what direction it's heading."