Aerospace Group

Synergy between South African Aerospace Research, Industry and Academia:

A National and International Requirement

Aerospace (Aeronautics and Space) Research and Development is a global business. South Africa, through the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) represents the African Continent for the cutting-edge Research and Development in Aeronautics. The CSIR is very well-known and respected for its knowledge and capability in Aerospace.

The  future  challenges  of  air  transport, such as climate change, limitation of energy resources, push the  leading  worldwide  aviation  research institutions, such as the CSIR, NASA, TsAGI, ONERA , DLR, JAXA to consolidate the applied research.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology - Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, have responded to these challenges in creating the first UP-CSIR Aeronautics Chair.

The Chair, led by Professor Laurent Dala (CSIR Research and Development in Aerospace), will be dedicated to develop and enhance the Applied Research and to create a strong synergy between the Aerospace Industry and the Academic world. Applied Research is becoming a key concept for the development and the leading role of the South African Aerospace Industry.

Applied Research will also be embedded more and more in teaching in order to prepare the future generation of aerospace graduates to work in the 21st Century Aerospace Industry.

The Industrial CSIR Chair will be based on multi- and cross-discipline concepts. The Chair will support not only the Development of the South African Aerospace Industry but also the African Continent for developing the cutting-edge Research and Development in Aeronautics.

Furthermore, the first Master in Aerospace Engineering in South Africa will start in the 2016 Academic. This Master has been defined with the Aerospace Industry in order to respond to the recent Research and Technology in the Aerospace world. Fields such Aeroelasticity, Avionics, Advanced Aerodynamics, Aircraft Structure, Aircraft Propulsion, Missile Aerodynamics and Design, Flight Dynamics, Unmanned Air System Technology and Experimental Methods will be delivered by Scientists and Professional Engineers from the CSIR, Paramount Advanced technologies (PAT), Denel and Incomar Aerospace and Defence Systems (IADS).

To view the Post‐Graduate Aeronautical Programme click here.

From Left to Right: Prof L. Dala (UP-CSIR Aeronatics Chair), Dr Kavendra Naidoo (Manager of the CSIR’s aeronautic systems), Prof Sunil Maharaj (Dean of Engineering – UP) and Prof Josua Meyer (Head of the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering - UP)