Aviation launch gets off to a flying start at QUT

March, 17 2008

Global aviation giant Boeing officially launched the establishment of its research and development (R & D) organisation Phantom Works at Queensland University of Technology.

The Phantom Works branch in Australia provides a centralised advanced research and development organisation for Boeing's business in the country and serves as a focal point for collaboration with Australian R & D organisations including universities, the private sector, CSIRO and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

The company plans to employ 30 scientific and engineering staff, which is expected to grow to 74 within four years.

QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) Professor Arun Sharma welcomed the opportunity to host such an important event.

"This is a very interesting and exciting day," he said.

Professor Sharma said Australian researchers were creating a new fund of intellectual work that was attracting the attention of global players.

"Aviation is certainly one of the areas where Queensland Government working with the corporate sector with the R & D providers has been able to create an excitement here," he said.

Attending the event Queensland Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said Phantom Works Australia would concentrate on several major research programs, including advanced composites, light robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and ageing aircraft technologies.

"It will also concentrate its research on biofuels, noise and pollution reduction and air traffic management," Ms Boyle said.

While at QUT, Ms Boyle also launched the second (UAV) Challenge Outback Rescue competition to be held at Kingaroy Airport over three days during September.

"Queensland is at the forefront of UAV research and development and the aim of the UAV Challenge Outback Rescue competition is to highlight UAVs' many potential benefits to ordinary Australians.

"This year the competition will consist of two separate challenge events: an Airborne Delivery Challenge for high school students and a Search and Rescue Challenge for uni students and UAV enthusiasts," she said.

"Basically competitors in both challenges have to mount an Outback rescue mission, where they have to drop off 'emergency supplies' to someone lost in the Bush, within an extremely tight time frame."

The challenge was formed through a partnership between Boeing Australia, the Queensland Government and the QUT-based Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA).

ARCAA is a joint venture between CSIRO and the QUT and has as its charter the aim to develop and expand the civilian use of UAVs.