Raising Aspirations Assembly 11

Date: 14th Mar 2019 @ 2:25pm

We were extrememly fortunate and privileged to welcome our guest, Mr Ian Hague, who joined us this morning for our Raising Aspirations assembly. We learnt all about his career as an aerospace engineer and how the dream 'to work with aeroplanes' at 10 years old was realised through hardwork and dedication. As an aerospace engineer Ian researched, designed, developed, maintained and tested the performance of civil and military aircraft in a role which saw him working for the United States Airforce and Japan's airforce.

Ian's role concerned with improving flight safety, fuel efficiency, speed and weight, as well as reducing system costs and using advancing technologies to meet customer needs. The role is increasingly addressing the environmental impact of air travel.

Ian first studied as an electronic engineer but became proficient in many areas of expertise (including aerodynamics, avionics, materials and structures, propulsion and system integration to name a few) as manager of over 200 employees. 

We learnt the tasks of an aerospace engineer can vary depending on your specialist area and employer, but you could be required to:

  • apply the principles of science and technology to create aircraft, components and support equipment
  • research and develop design specifications and use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create plans
  • supervise the assembly of airframes and the installation of engines, instruments and other equipment
  • take part in flight-test programmes to measure take-off distances, rate of climb, stall speeds, manoeuvrability and landing capacities
  • resolve issues that arise during the design, development and testing processes
  • maintain aircraft for full operation including making regular inspections, maintenance, repairs and servicing
  • measure and improve the performance of aircraft, components and systems
  • modify designs to improve safety features or minimise fuel consumption and pollution
  • investigate aircraft accidents
  • collate information, interpret data and publish the results of specific projects in technical report form
  • communicate technical and regulatory advice to clients, teams, suppliers and other professionals within the aerospace industry.

There are many transferable skills which we develop during Primary school which are required to be a successful aerospace engineer which include the following:

  • strong mathematical, analytical and problem solving skills
  • technical expertise
  • creativity and innovative thinking
  • attention to detail
  • a strong awareness of safety issues
  • communication skills, both verbal and written
  • project and time management skills
  • a commitment to keeping up to date with technical developments
  • the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

It was an absolute pleasure to listen to Ian share how his interest and passion in aeroplanes as a child lead him into an apprenticeship which inturn lead into a most successful career as an expert in the field of aerospace engineering.