UNSW Aviation

We’re thrilled to celebrate another major milestone for our PhD candidate, Boripat Ratchaneepun (Max), with the publication of his third journal paper from his PhD in Accident Analysis and Prevention. 🎉

Titled “Young novice drivers' hazard and speed management skills: A systematic review,” the paper examines existing peer-reviewed literature to identify ways to improve young novice drivers’ hazard and speed management, which are critical skills for safe driving. It also provides valuable insights into skill transfer, suggesting that enhancing one skill (e.g. hazard management) may lead to improvements in another (e.g.speed management), and vice versa.

This publication is co-authored by Max’s supervisors, Professor Brett Molesworth and Dr Oleksandra Molloy, and represents an important contribution to research on training young novice drivers.

Congratulations to Max on this outstanding achievement and a key milestone in his PhD journey!

Check out the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2026.108473

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✈️ Is there a better way to train pilots for the future?

Last Thursday 11 June 2026, UNSW Aviation proudly hosted an industry panel in partnership with The Honourable Company of Air Pilots to explore the future of pilot training.

Moderated by Captain Adrian Young (FRAeS), the panel featured Adrianne Fleming, Captain Andrew Stead, and Malcolm Good, who shared valuable insights on preparing the next generation of pilots.

Key takeaways:
• A shift toward a more learner-centric approach, beyond just logging flight hours
• The growing importance of adaptability in an evolving aviation industry
• The need for high-quality training guided by experienced instructors
• The role of technology in enabling immersive, scenario-based learning in a digital and AI-driven world

The event was a fantastic success, finishing with networking and refreshments.

Stay tuned for our upcoming podcast, which will feature a full recording of the discussion.

Big week in global aviation ✈️🌍

Professor Brett Molesworth attended the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 82nd AGM, while Senior Lecturer Dane Kondic visited Embraer’s commercial aircraft facilities in São José dos Campos, Brazil.

The visit offered a behind-the-scenes look at one of aviation’s major success stories. Embraer has reduced E Jet production times by 28% since 2021, all while demand for its next-gen E2 fleet continues to grow. With a backlog of US$14.5B and production nearly sold out for the next five years, Embraer is shaping the future of regional aviation.

Dane Kondic, who brings extensive global airline leadership experience, gained valuable insights from the visit into the operational, commercial, and supply chain challenges shaping airline fleet strategies worldwide.

“Understanding how manufacturers are responding to market demand, production efficiency and sustainability challenges provides critical insights for airline managers and future aviation leaders.”

These global engagements reflect UNSW Aviation’s strong industry ties and commitment to preparing the next generation of aviation leaders through real-world insight.

We're proud to see Professor Brett Molesworth from the UNSW School of Aviation contributing to the global aviation conversation at The IATA 82nd Annual General Meeting, serving on a panel examining The Psychology of Passengers in Stressful Situations.

The Guardian recently featured insights from Professor Brett Molesworth from the panel discussion on passenger behaviour during aircraft evacuations. During the discussion, he highlighted a critical human factors insight. In high-stress scenarios, up to 75% of people struggle to process information, often leading to instinctive actions such as retrieving luggage, despite the safety risks. He also noted that only around half of passengers absorb safety briefings, reinforcing a key challenge in improving evacuation outcomes.

His participation alongside leading aviation professionals demonstrates the School's strong industry connections and international reputation for research excellence in aviation human factors and safety.

Research, industry and impact – working together to shape the future of aviation.

Read the full article to learn more: https://shorturl.at/wJxw8

We’re pleased to host, together with the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, a panel discussion on the future of pilot training.

Join us in person for an engaging discussion and hear from industry experts on how pilot training is evolving and whether current approaches are delivering the best outcomes for pilots, regulators, and the wider aviation industry.

📆Date: Thursday 11 June 2026
⏰Time: 5:30-8:30pm
📍Location: Robert Webster Theatre A UNSW

Register here: https://l1nq.com/2wukd41

On Monday evening, UNSW Aviation was pleased to attend the Trinity Grammar Careers Expo. Representing the team, Lorda Omeissah and flight instructor Andrew Grove connected with a steady stream of students and parents, answering questions about university pathways into aviation.

There was strong interest in both pilot training and aviation business and management programs, with parents responding particularly positively to the university pathway. Students were also keen to explore our drone offerings and the dual Commerce/Aviation Management degree, with many recognising the advantage of combining aviation expertise with business skills.

Thank you to Sue Draysey, Coordinator of Careers and Student Pathways at Trinity Grammar, for the invitation and for hosting such a well-attended event!

It was a valuable and memorable experience for UNSW Aviation Higher Degree Research students to visit Crashlab at Huntingwood, NSW, marking our first-ever visit to this leading crash testing facility.

Hosted by Crashlab Manager Ross Dal Nevo, the visit provided an in-depth look into the critical work underpinning transport safety. Students had the opportunity to observe a wide range of crash test dummies and specialised equipment used to assess vehicles, road infrastructure, and safety features such as helmets and child restraints.

The presentation and discussion session with Ross offered rich insights into crash testing procedures, ANCAP safety ratings, and the broader role of evidence-based testing in improving road safety outcomes. It was particularly valuable to see how research translates into real-world safety applications.

A sincere thank you to Ross for his generous time, expertise, and engaging discussions throughout the visit! Thank you also to our wonderful HDR representative and PhD candidate Kardina Nawassa Setyo Ayuningtyas for organising another great student visit; these away-from-the-desk experiences are so valuable.

Last Thursday UNSW Aviation had the pleasure of hosting the PaTCH (Professional and Technical staff community) social, and what a lovely afternoon it was! ☀️

It was wonderful to welcome our fellow Faculty of Science Schools and spend some time together over delicious food, drinks and conversation. With the weather on our side, it was a great setting to connect with colleagues we don't always get the chance to meet.

We're already looking forward to the next one!

We’re delighted to celebrate a fantastic milestone for our PhD student, Boripat (Max) Ratchaneepun, on the publication of his second journal paper from his PhD 🎉

This paper explores how integrated training can improve young drivers’ hazard management and speed management skills at the same time. It matters because better performance in these two areas can support safer driving and may offer a more effective approach to road-safety training than teaching each skill separately.

This kind of research has real-world implications for how we design driver education programmes and, ultimately, for saving young lives on the road.

Congratulation to Max on this significant achievement! You can read the full paper here:

www.sciencedirect.com