What does it take to develop, test and certify a modern aircraft? On 11 November 2026, third-year undergraduate Aerospace Engineering students at Queen Mary University of London had the opportunity to find out from Dr Giel Cohen, Head of Aircraft Performance and Mass Properties at Airbus Defence and Space (DS) and an Honorary Reader in the School of Engineering and Materials Science.

Drawing on more than 20 years of industrial experience, Dr Cohen delivered an engaging guest lecture in EMS612U Flight Dynamics and Control of Aircraft, taking students through the aircraft development cycle, engineering standards, certification and flight testing. Videos of Airbus A400M flight-test campaigns brought the excitement and engineering challenges of real aircraft testing into the classroom.

Dr Cohen also shared practical career advice and stayed afterwards to answer students' questions about working in the aerospace industry.

The lecture followed another industry session three weeks earlier, when Mr Andy Fawkes spoke to the same cohort of students in EMS611U Conceptual Design of Aircraft about aerospace simulation and routes to Chartered Engineer (CEng) recognition.

The relationship with Airbus extends well beyond guest lectures. For the second consecutive year, Airbus DS is supporting an MEng group project on wing flutter, with Dr Cohen also visiting Queen Mary's aerospace laboratory to discuss the project directly with students.

Following the lecture, Dr Cohen met with Dr Eldad Avital and Dr Ketao Zhang, joined online by Airbus colleagues, to explore further opportunities for student projects and joint research.