RAeS marks 150th anniversary with debate on the future of flight
Sponsored by global civil and military aerospace industry leaders Thales, the discussion will be based on the motion, This House believes there will be no need for pilots 40 years from now, which aims to encapsulate a subject of vital future interest to all involved in aviation and aerospace as the demand and market for unmanned air systems rapidly grows.
A number of high-profile industry speakers have been lined up to participate in the debate, including Andrew Haines OBE FRAeS, Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority; Andrew Tyler FRAeS, Chief Executive UK & Europe of Northrup Grumman; and Chris Browne FRAeS, Chief Operating Officer of the TUI Group. The debate will be compered by presenter, broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Vine.
The Royal Aeronautical Society was formed on 12 January 1866 – over three decades before the Wright Brothers first flew. The Society has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace ever since, promoting the highest professional standards in all aerospace disciplines, playing a leading role in influencing opinion on aerospace matters and acting as a central forum for the exchange of ideas.
The Society is celebrating its sesquicentennial with a year-long programme of events and activities that look back 150 years and forward over the next half century with the theme of ‘innovative firsts’ in aerospace. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will act as Honorary President for the anniversary year.
The event will also see the official launch of a set of eight commemorative postage stamps that the Society, the National Aerospace Library and Isle of Man Post Office have designed to capture mankind’s exploration of the skies. The stamps show-case a history of cutting-edge technology and innovation in aeronautics from the conquest of air to current developments of the Trent engine and British ESA Astronaut Tim Peake’s current mission to the International Space Station.
Commenting ahead of the Anniversary Debate, Martin Broadhurst OBE FRAeS, President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said: “The role of unmanned systems in civil and defence arenas is growing rapidly. New pilotless technologies have the potential to transform the aerospace and aviation sectors as we know them today. The Royal Aeronautical Society has been a vanguard of innovation throughout its 150-year history and we continue to act as a central forum for the exchange of new ideas with this opening event in our anniversary calendar.
“The Royal Aeronautical Society is proud of its long heritage and we are excited about celebrating the contribution it has made to the advancement of progress. Looking forward over the next 50 years, we are intent on stimulating new ideas, inspiring young people about past and future aerospace achievement, and leaving a legacy of accomplishment and identification of future opportunities that will be of value for years to come.”
Victor Chavez CBE, Chief Executive of Thales in the UK, said: “We congratulate the Royal Aeronautical Society on achieving this historic landmark anniversary and are proud to be sole sponsors of this inaugural event in their 150th year. We very much look forward to developing stronger ties as with contribute to the future of aerospace technology.”