Aviation Students Share Information at Chinese University

Five Aviation Technology (AT) students and three instructors crossed the Pacific over spring break 2003 to share the latest techniques in airport management with their counterparts at the Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC).

CAUC invited the group to China to share information that would improve international aviation safety. “The Chinese are planning to build 100 new airports over the next eight years, and both our universities have a vested interest in protecting passengers who travel through them,” said Christy Brazee, assistant professor of AT. “This trip was a great chance to exchange ideas on how to improve airport security and learn more about each other's cultures as well.”

While the group spent much time exchanging management techniques with their colleagues, many of the group members said that the cultural experience was of equal, if not greater, value than the professional knowledge gained.

"I had never been to the Far East before," said Kevin Bidwell, one of the students in the group. "I think both we and the Chinese students were curious about each other. We found that though airports have the same problems everywhere, cultures have their own idiosyncrasies, and being aware of them will be important if and when I am ever working in an airline's overseas office."

In addition to Bidwell, the group included students Christin Capriglione from Kendallville, Ind., Tara Trimmer from Ellington, Mo., Shannon Thomas from Rome, Ga., and Yuu-Ching Cheng from Taipei, Taiwan.

CONTACT: Christy Brazee, assistant professor for Aviation Technology, (765) 496-7748, cabrazee@tech.purdue.edu.