Delta Donates Jet To Purdue For Student Research

Oct. 7, 2014
The 50-seat CRJ-100ER will allow teaching and research related to maintenance procedures and ground-handling procedures, such as passenger customer service, aircraft boarding and deboarding, and baggage handling.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University's Department of Aviation Technology received a donated commercial regional jet aircraft to be used for on-the-ground research and teaching at the Purdue University Airport.

"Students in the department's Professional Flight program will be able to use the former Delta Air Lines aircraft as an advanced systems learning laboratory," said John Mott, director of the Advanced Aviation Analytics Institute for Research (A3IR-CORE). Mott said that Delta is a key supporter of A3IR-CORE, one of two university-level research centers in the department.

"Our Aeronautical Engineering Technology students will gain knowledge in FAA maintenance practices for transport aircraft, and our Aviation Management students will benefit from coordinating operations involving the aircraft and from participating in ground-handling research projects," Mott said.

The 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ-100ER) was manufactured in 1995 and entered scheduled service with Comair before ending its service as a Delta Connection aircraft. Kenneth Raver, a Purdue pilot instructor and former Comair pilot, flew this aircraft when it was in service at Comair.

Aviation Technology department head John Wensveen said Delta’s partnership with A3IR-CORE is a prime example of the Industry-Purdue Opportunity Pipeline (iPOP) concept developed by aviation technology faculty and expanded to include multiple partnership and educational opportunities.

"iPOP will provide a smooth progression for aviation technology students to participate in industry projects as undergraduates, develop and demonstrate leadership and project management skills as graduate students, and obtain internship and placement opportunities," Wensveen said.

The 50-seat CRJ-100ER has two CF34 turbofan engines manufactured by General Electric. The donated jet will allow teaching and research related to advanced industry maintenance procedures and ground-handling procedures, such as passenger customer service, aircraft boarding and deboarding, and baggage handling. The plane will also be used to teach and research aircraft ground operations, such as servicing, towing and taxiing.