Aerospace visionaries issue calls to action in Avionics Europe 2013 keynote session

MUNICH, 20 Feb. 2013. Avionics Europe 2013 in Munich kicked off today with three knowledgeable aerospace visionaries inspiring an audience of avionics professionals, including engineers and high-level executives, to move the industry forward.

Avionics Europe Conference Director and Avionics Intelligence Editor Courtney E. Howard introduced a panel of experienced aerospace executives:

Jenny Body, President Elect, Royal Aeronautical Society

Capt. Sascha Unterbarnsheidt

Alejandro (Alex) Jiménez Garzón

The keynote speakers at Avionics Europe stressed the importance of new technologies and approaches to avionics hardware and software, embracing necessary certifications and regulations, upgrading air traffic management and clean sky approaches, and increased industry networking and involvement.

Jenny Body, OBE, FRAeS; President Elect, Royal Aeronautical Society

Jenny worked for Airbus (in its various guises) since 1971 when she joined the company as an undergraduate apprentice. Initially part of the avionics group, she prepared flight software for the preliminary ‘fly by wire’ UK test aircraft and then worked on Slat/Flap and Landing Gear systems for A320 and A340 Airbus aircraft. After a spell in R&T Management, as a complete change she became the engineering leader of the Nimrod wing design team at Filton. Subsequently she was responsible for on–going wing developments and repairs on in-service Airbus aircraft before moving to the A400M team as wing design team lead. Her final role was in R&T Management again. She was responsible for maximizing support for UK based Airbus R&T. Her main achievement was the preparation and establishment of the Next Generation Composite Wing Programme – the biggest UK Aerospace R&T programme to date. She is a Fellow of The Royal Aeronautical Society and is a member of Council. She retired from Airbus in October 2010 as one the highest-ranking female engineers at Airbus UK. She made history when she took up her new position and became the first female President Elect of the world’s oldest aeronautical society, founded in 1866.

Captain Sascha Unterbarnscheidt, Director Operations Support Frankfurt and Captain A320, Deutsche Lufthansa AG

Parallel to his occupation as an airline pilot flying presently short-haul aircraft, Cpt Unterbarnscheidt built up his professional experiences in regard to airline and aviation management by having been responsible for developing training programs for flight crews related to the interaction of human factors, system design of aircraft (manufactures) an external components (ATC, Airports, etc). Furthermore he was Assistant to the COO of Lufthansa Passage coordinating flight operational issues with legal bodies and public authorities.

The SESAR Project Office at Lufthansa Passage belong to his the area of responsibility.

Alejandro Jiménez Garzón, Head of Platform Systems, Airbus Military

Alejandro Jiménez Garzón is the Head of Platform Systems in Airbus Military Engineering Office in Getafe. He gained his civil and military professional experiences working in different countries and in different National and International programs been dedicated to civil and military certification and final customer qualification.

During his 32 years of experience in A/C industry he has been working in program such as the Boeing 767, the civil, military transport and mission versions of the CN235 and C295, the basic design and different systems upgrades of the EF2000 Fighter (Typhoon), the military communication and surveillance upgrades of the Spanish F-18, the new avionics for the Spanish trainer F-5, the American tanker KC-45 competition and finally, the A400M.

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