SRM University student team enters global aviation competition finale

NEW DELHI: A team of students from a private Indian university is among the five groups shortlisted for the finals of a global competition to develop innovative ideas for a more sustainable aviation industry. The team 'AVAS' from SRM University will compete in the third edition of the 'Fly Your Ideas challenge', organised by European aircraft-manufacturing consortium Airbus Industrie, a statement from the aircraft manufacturer said. The team comprising Michael Thomas, Anita Mohil and Balakrishnan Solaraju Murali - all studying bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering - would travel to France to present their ideas before a jury of Airbus and industry experts at Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse on June 12, it said. The other teams making it to the finals are from Brazil, Australia, Italy and Malaysia. The winning team would receive a prize of euros 30,000 and the runners-up euros 15,000. "The winners would be announced at an exclusive ceremony at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris on June 14 as UNESCO has given its patronage to the global competition," the statement said. This year's challenge inspired over 6,000 students from 82 countries to register with 618 teams submitting a proposal. The proposals had to cover one of the six themes identified by Airbus as key 21st century challenges for a greener aviation industry. Team AVAS successfully passed through the eliminating rounds to get to the final with their proposal for reduced propulsion noise.