Science in the National Aviation University: history and present

Social and economic environment of the new century, the development of the world science, the University`s restructuring, the opening of new specialists training fields, on one hand, and involvement of highly qualified scientists of relevant scientific activity directions, on the other hand have led to significant restructuring of the University science, its subjects broadening, appearance of research complex on social, economic and humanitarian issues. Significant impetus was in research connected to modern information technologies, use of possibilities of space industry.

The development of the University science is the logical continuation of significant achievements of earlier generations of scientists.

The history of scientific department organizing at the NAU started in 1948. This year the first scientific groups were founded – technical, mathematical, graphical, aircraft modeling and mechanical ones.

At the end of 1957 the Deputy Head of the Institute on Educational and Scientific Work Pen`kov A.M. (1953 - 1958) initiated the creation of a Scientific and Research Department (SRD). 

During 10 years within the SRD, directed by Vice-Rectors on scientific work Kukhtenko A.I. (1958-1961) and Karlashov O.V. (1961-1964), 10 Branch Scientific and Research Laboratories (BSRL) were created and successfully functioned. There a number of scientific investigations for the civil aviation were executed in directions of aircraft repair and technology, aviation constructions durability and longevity, aviation trainers and aviation maintenance technology, etc.

In January, 1969, a Scientific and Research Modelling Center (SRMC) was created based on three BSRLs. Its main activities were creation of trainers for preparing astronauts for landing on the Moon, solving problems of flight simulation, development of aircraft imitators and trainers, etc.

In April, 1971, a Scientific and Research Sector (SRS) was created based on SRMC and BSRL. Its structure included more than 20 BSRLs. The scientific work was headed by the Vice-Rector on Scientific Work Aliabyev A.J. (1964-1975).

During late 70-ies the profiling of scientific fields was carried out targeted at concentration of scientists` and specialists` attempts on solving the main problems of Aeroflot. By the Scientific and Technical Department of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of USSR the Institute has been vested with eight major research areas, in the frames of which an organizational structure of 23 industry and 9 scientific and research laboratories was approved.

The Institute's scientists actively participated in realizing a number of target complex scientific and research programs of the sector: on flights safety, on creation and use of aviation trainers, on improving maintenance of aircraft, on complex mechanization and automation of production and technology processes, on aviation fuel saving, etc. The scientific activity of this period was directed by Vice-Rectors on Scientific Work Denysov V.G. (1975-1979), Maksymov V.S. (1979-1982) and Nazarenko P.V. (1982-1989).

In 1992 the SRS was renamed into Scientific and Research Unit (SRU). The research fields of SRU were connected with civil aviation, higher education and other sectors of the economy of independent Ukraine problems solving. All scientific activities were subject to the University Pro-rector on Scientific Work Biletskiy A.J. (1989-2001).

Since December 2001 all scientific activities are subordinated to the University Vice-Rector on Scientific Work Kharchenko V.P., Professor, Head of Aero Navigation Systems Department.

As a specialist in the sphere of social and technical systems efficiency and decision making under uncertainty and risk, Kharchenko V.P. is the leader of a number of fundamental and applied scientific and research works connected with:

• developing methods and computer means of multi-alternative identifying and solving conflict situations in social-technical systems;
• developing the principles of intellectual systems with knowledge base and recognition of critical situations construction and modeling;
• developing scientific and technical aspects of global satellite communication, navigation, surveillance / air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system in Ukraine.

New social and economical environment demanded a new University development concept which was created by the NAU staff at the beginning of the new century. The University science development strategy principles are:

• maximum use of potential, accumulated in the past; saving and further development of the most important research fields;
• constant and efficient monitoring of the world science achievements (in aviation at the first place), searching and promoting new research fields. Creating an enabling environment for informational search;
• organizational restructuring of science management, creating new, more efficient and mobile scientific departments, opening scientific institutes to focus efforts on practical fields;
• closed cooperation with the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, other scientific institutions, departments, creating joint scientific teams, attracting specialists of NAS of Ukraine to work and teach at the University;
• fruitful cooperation with universities and scientific centers around the world;
• creating appropriate conditions for new generation young scientists bringing up.

The scientific concepts of the University cover such major fields: development of scientific and research projects; creation of industry and interindustry laboratories and centers; staff training; holding of the University events; participation in priority research programs using full-format computer informational system. So, measures are taken on creating a powerful multi-vector scientific and research laboratory complex of new generation based on the Aviation Scientific and Research Institute (ASRI). The structure of the scientific and research unit composed of scientific and research laboratories and centers has been regularized: Scientific and Research Center of informational support of aircraft and gas-transport equipment maintenance; Center of aircraft operational reliability; Scientific and Research Laboratory of transport equipment and construction works; Scientific and Research Laboratory «Strength and Resources of Aircraft»; Scientific and Research Laboratory of Nanotribology; Scientific and Research Laboratory of materials, mechanisms and aerospace structures; Certification Authority for personnel involved in non-destructive control and specific technological processes in aerospace industry of Ukraine; Scientific and Research Laboratory of technical diagnostics; Scientific and Research Laboratory of integrated automated systems in aviation; Scientific and Research Laboratory of integrated CALS-technologies «Solid»; Scientific and Research Institute for integrated telecommunication technologies; Research and Training Center «Aerospace Center», Scientific and Research Laboratory of transport control and monitoring problems; Research and Training Center of unmanned aviation; Scientific and Research Laboratory of telecommunication systems development and expertise; Scientific and Research Laboratory of information processing technologies; Research and Methodological Center of aviation English possession assessment and control; Scientific Center of Zhitomir Military Institute named after Koroliov S.P. of the National Aviation University; Metrological Service of the NAU; Scientific and Research Center of airports ecological problems; Ukrainian Scientific, Research and Training Center of himmotology and certification of fuel, lubricants and technical liquids; Center of ecobiosafety; Scientific and Research Laboratory of information coding and cryptographic security; Scientific and Research Laboratory of information security systems; Scientific and Research Laboratory of aviation computer technologies; Scientific and Research Laboratory of aviation information technologies; Research and Training Center of integrated computer technologies; Scientific and Research Laboratory of synthesis and creation of volumetric image.

The NAU consists of such Scientific and Research Institutes: Scientific and Research Institute for Aviation, Ukrainian Scientific and Research Institute for Design, Scientific and Research Institute for Civil Aviation; Scientific and Research Institute for International Relations, Scientific and Research Institute «Avia-test»; Scientific and Research Institute for Fast Processes; Aviation Certification Training, Consulting and Production Center “Center AVIA CERVICE”; Joint Venture (JV) Main Methodological Center of Civil Aviation; JP of Complex Security; JP of Main Scientific Metrological Center of Civil Aviation of Ukraine.

  A significant step in the process of relations development between the NAU, the NAS of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine was the creation in the NAU`s structure of the Institute for Advanced Technologies (IAT). In addition to large-scale educational and scientific research in advanced technologies sphere, another critical problem is solved — the creation of new generation young Ukrainian scientists. The scientists working with gifted youth of junior courses have the possibility within the studying years to identify inclinations and abilities of students and thus create basis for their successful research activities in the future. The Institute has a number of Chairs Affiliates at the leading Institutes of the NAS of Ukraine, the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine, the Academy of Agrarian Science of Ukraine, the Academy of Medical Science of Ukraine AMSU. Academician Shpak A. is appointed as Scientific Supervisor of IMT. The Institute for Modern Technologies collaborates with Academicians Bebeshko V., Geyets V., Knyshiv G., Kryshtal O., Kuntsevych V., Kukhar V., Novikov M., Romanenko V., Samoylenko A., Stogniy B., Troschenko V., Shydlovskiy А., and others. An important direction is cooperation between the NAU and the NAS of Ukraine scientists in the process of post-graduates and doctoral candidates training and their thesis maintaining.

The research is conducted in the following areas: operation and air navigation provision in aviation; air traffic control; avionics; information security; safety in aviation (aviation security and flights safety); ecology and environmental protection; management and economics; Air and Space Law; humanities. Much attention is paid to aircraft flight management and small unmanned aerial vehicles flight control systems. An intensive scientific research is held in the field of transport traffic forecasting. The specific feature of the process is the realization of artificial intellect concept. An automated forecasting informational system is created and is being implemented in the transport traffic management complex.

According to the concept of the State Program on technological security ensuring for major industries of Ukraine a program of joint activities of the NAU, the NAS of Ukraine and other organizations in the sphere of technical diagnostic systems development has been elaborated. It covers such priority issues: theoretical, methodological, experimental study of objects` state and working out methods and tools of their diagnosing and forecasting; airborne power systems diagnostics; development of regulations for technical diagnostics in Ukraine in accordance with international standards and recommendations; diagnostics of technological processes; investigating the processes of solids structure formation and development of methods of their status assessment; diagnostics of aircraft, their elements and equipment status, determining the dynamics depending on the exploitation environment, crew qualification level and technical service quality; development of mobile information-diagnostic systems; diagnosis of transport vehicles; development of Hardware-in-Loop-Simulation systems for aircraft and their elements in close to real flights conditions; scientific and methodological support to the process of training, re-training and certification of personnel in the technical diagnosis sphere.

Thus, the strategic issue of the University scientific activity development policy is networking with major institutes and organizations of the NAS of Ukraine, specializing in modern science problems solving. A number of scientific institutions of the NAS of Ukraine, in particular the Institute for Electric Welding named after Paton O.E., Institute for Cybernetics named after Glushkov V.M., Institute for Space Research, Institute for Technical Mechanics, Institute for Problems of Strength, Institute for Superhard Materials named after Bakul V.M., Institute of Materials named after Frantsevych І.М., Institute of Physics and Mechanics named after Karpenko G.V., Institute of Metal Physics named after Kurdyumov G.V. and others have a considerable practical experience, relevant scientific potential, qualified personnel and methodology for various problems.

Air Force of Ukraine, the National Space Agency of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Scientific and Research Institute for Aviation Technologies, state company “Ukrspetsexport”, Kyiv Aircraft Repair Plant № 410 and others are involved in development and implementation of technical diagnostics systems.

One of the major fields of scientific activities is connected to theoretical justification of scientific regulations of structural state control and diagnosis and forecasting of working characteristics of protective coatings made of resource base materials. A device for technical diagnostics of physical and mechanical characteristics of thin surface layers on micro- and nanolevels has been developed. It ensures the possibility to get information necessary for assessment of the quality of functioning, defining and forecasting the materials technical state. The device is used at the Institutes of the NAS of Ukraine: Institute for Materials named after Frantsevych І.М., Institute for Superhard Materials named after Bakul V.M., Institute for Problems of Strength.

Investigations are conducted and a complex of devices on express assessment of lubricating properties of transmission and motor oils has been developed. They are based on the original complex diagnostic criteria and comparison of the investigated and the reference oil environments within hard fixing of external parameters. The devices have been patented. They are successfully used in Ukraine, the Great Britain, Germany, Spain, and Russia.

Traditionally much attention is paid by the University researchers to diagnostics of aircraft as an integrated dynamic system. It is conducted together with the diagnostics of aircraft’s separate functional systems in order to witness the fact of maintaining flight technical performance within allowed limits, which corresponds the level of flight suitability, or the characteristics overcoming these limits. This type of diagnostics is called “the integral diagnostics”. A particular relevance of this direction is due to air-carriers of huge and rapidly aging fleet of Soviet production aircrafts and helicopters (about 1400 items). The automated flight simulating system, methods and automated tools for airborne systems of flight data processing, methods and the system of identifying the aerodynamic and performance characteristics of aircraft have been developed at the University. One of the major aircraft diagnosis objects is its energy board systems, in particular the parametric diagnostics of aviation gas turbine engines (GTE). Today in Ukraine, as well as abroad, the intensive research is directed to automated diagnostic systems (ADS) elaboration, which implement diverse methods of GTE technical status assessment. In order to assess and monitor GTE technical state, the engine constant control and diagnostics, its critical elements resource monitoring based on their loaded state analysis, control and monitoring of reliability level of GTE components are carried. The modern automated control systems for increased control suitability engines register more than 40 parameters of 300 signals within 1-2 seconds period during the whole flight. Automated systems, developed at the NAU, are used for diagnosis of low control suitability engines of Д-30КП/ КП2, Д-30, НК-8-2У, АІ-24 types and others. On the base of this method an ADS was developed, which is implemented at the joint Ukrainian-Russian aircraft repair enterprise “URARP” to control the technical status of turbo-jet engine (TGE) Д-30КП/КП-2 for the aircraft Іл-76 (ACS-Control Д30КП) and a number of aviation enterprises of Ukraine.

For safe operation of aging aircraft fleet particularly important becomes the diagnostics of aviation constructions damage from fatigue. At the National Aviation University on the simulation basis it was revealed that the boundary state within multi-source destruction is characterized by a significant intensification of the maximum length cracks increase with critical density of cracks on the surface. To calculate limit state of constructions with cracks and to predict their residual life the probability formulas were got for connection of maximum length crack to determine the mathematical expectation of the maximum crack sizes depending on the number of defects on the surface.

Mathematical modeling is essential to meet the challenges of diagnosing the dynamics of air ships. The University developed mathematical models for flight tests planning, evaluating the impact of expected operating conditions on aircraft performance, evaluating the impact of individual features of an aircraft on flight characteristics, optimizing its flight regimes, investigating air accidents. The developments are used while operating aircrafts Іл-86, Іл-62М, Ан-124, Ту-154 М, Ан-124-100 and others.

For many years the works on distant information about clouds internal structure and fall-outs getting and detection of hazardous aviation meteorological phenomena are conducted. University scientists jointly with the Institute "Буран" developed the meteo-navigation radar Буран-A140, which is serially produced by the factory "Radar" and is of great demand, in particular is exported to Iran. Complex developments in the field were awarded the State Prize of Ukraine in 1996.

The humanity has entered a new millennium of space era and a new century of powerful information streams that determine the development of countries and their peoples. Especially the trend is shown in the aircraft industry exampled by concepts CNS/ATM, "Free flight" and designed at the NAU corporate integrated aero navigation, multi-alternative air situations monitoring and control, etc. All these concepts a directed to reach the global target, allowing aircrafts to maintain scheduled time of departure and arrival with the use of priority flights profiles and guaranteed level of flights security. Increasing flights economic efficiency and safety with the possible provision of air traffic participants with permitted autonomy in selecting the optimal modes requires the development of integrated aero navigation taking into consideration the corporate principles. The major objectives of the corporate navigation are: determining the relative aircraft position in a group; classification of situations by the threat degree for each aircraft; choice of optimal set of algorithms for solving conflict situations from the perspective of minimizing the risk of collision or avoidance the next, more difficult one.

The goal of the navigation and landing complex (NLC) based on new information technologies created by the NAU and Ukrainian Research Institute of Radio is the development of integrated hardware (hardware integration) and an integrated information and control system (functional integration) using peculiarities of satellite technology. NLC efficiency is achieved due to the flights possibility in the airspace of different classes according to international regulations and prevention of catastrophic situation caused by collisions with the ground, as well as reduced operating costs. Such NLC components as “КУРС-93М”, “БУК-99”, “КР КУРС-93М”, “СППЗ-2000” are developed, tested, certified and serially produced. The multi-level integration of the complex and the relationship between its systems is based on specially developed information technologies that provide high equipment performance and its adaptation to conditions of military and civil aviation.

The integrated complex is installed on the aircrafts Ан-38-100, Ан-140, МіГ-29СМТ, Ан-124, Ан-74ТК-300, and helicopter Мі-171АМТ. The work package was awarded with the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology in 2001. The combination of information measuring and information computing systems in the complex allowed to take into account the dynamic aircraft characteristics and information loop integrity that provides the use of special landing categories in flight emergencies.

The National Aviation University developed an automated intellectual decision making system (AIDMS), which is designed to automate the calculation of smooth previous traffic plans with intellectual support, decisions on optimizing the flow of aircrafts with a guaranteed level of safety as well as procedural and trajectory (radar, satellite, etc.) control of the current traffic state. The prognosis maker is the system’s principle and together with other subsystems it performs the following major tasks: traffic plans calculation; united isometric display of traffic plan in a graph and charts to display the current flight situation; display of navigational, meteorological and other adjuvant information; identification and analysis of potential conflict situations; intellectual support of planning and decision making procedures: traffic plans adjustment, procedural and trajectory control of the aircraft position; correlation of plan and trajectory information; aircraft flight simulation according to developed plan; local databases management; traffic plan preparation according to the approved form; the plan and meteorological information distribution to consumers. The AIDMS for ships traffic coordinator at Bug-Dnister and Kherson sea channels has been developed.

Priorities are also scientific and research works related to satellite technology, on the basis of which systems of intelligent traffic control, automatic decision-making in conflict situations and development of aerospace systems information technology were developed. Scientific and research works dedicated to aero navigation services quality improving deserve special attention. The concept of integrated corporate aero navigation, multi-level monitoring and management of air situation is actively developed. Such developments are not only interesting for the reason of a non-standard solution; they are unique in their orientation to the use not only in high-tech projects in the future, but also in their being completely adapted to technologies of today. The research direction is also extremely important because it investigates the possibility of creating an interface, suitable for human operator and the entire complex "peaceful coexistence" in the modern air traffic control systems. It is known that modern satellite management and control systems are a complicated complex which functional potential is based on computer programs with a high level of formalization. But these complexes function, like all others, in the field of human knowledge without external constraints of semantic space. Therefore, particularly important becomes the detection of a mechanism of "perceiving" by such high-tech systems based on artificial intelligence technology, the categories that reflect the unclear scope of a human semantic field.

No less significant is the problem of two-way communication system "operator-technical complex", which was investigated during creation of testing and adaptation systems, as well as in air traffic controller’ practical use.

At the NAU technologies are created to effectively develop optimal and precise navigation systems, as well as assess navigational determiners of quality and navigation processes on land, which are achievable in the real stochastic flight. The results of these works are one of the essential parts of the scientific research, engineering and implementing works on creating the first national competitive system of course determination. In 1998 this series of works was awarded with the State Prize in Science and Technology of Ukraine.

The university conducts the work on the diagnostics of transport accidents. A flight data recorder without the use of traditional magnetic tapes was designed and together with "Elektronprylad" produced. The information is recorded on the memory chips. A wide range of options for a long time is fixed.

Tools for events reproduction in the form of graphic images in three dimensions were developed. The development of sound recording computer technology allowed solving the problem of simultaneous parametric and language information playback. Considerable experience of information reproduction from damaged due to accident registers is accumulated. A complex for decoding and analysis of flight information "Center" (which passed state tests and was adopted as the basis for the unified Air Force of Ukraine flight information processing system) was developed. The NAU’s scientists collaborate with international organizations EUROCAE, TSB Canada, NTSB USA, which allows being at the forefront of science and technology.

Much attention is paid by the NAU’s scientists to perspective international scientific and technical projects development. The project “Doppler-polymetric Radar Observations of Turbulence in Rain" was implemented in Delft, the Netherlands (September 2002 - March 2003) under long-term collaboration between the NAU (Kyiv, Ukraine) and the International Research Center of Communications and Radar (IRCTR) at Delft Technical University (TU-Delft).

The method of information recovery on kinetic energy dissipation rate of turbulence in separate volume was developed. Additional independent evaluation of the turbulence intensity is derived from Doppler measurements of average Doppler speed by the separate volume radar with high distinguished spatial resolution (15 m). The method of over long waves and their parameters measuring according to the results the Doppler power spectra processing for different polarization was developed.

The recommendations on further research and results dissemination have been developed. The results could practically be used in various fields, particularly for radiation balance and climate change monitoring, hydrology and flood prevention, telecommunications quality and flights safety improvement.

The project "Visual Aeronautic Provision of Flight at Civil Airfields" was realized together with companies AT "ELTODO", subsection "ELECTROSIGNAL", Prague (CZ), "HONEYWELL", Germany, "TRANSCON" (CZ), "AFL IMREH”, Czech Republic - Ukraine.

Certain samples of new equipment, such as airport lights automatic control complex КАУК-1, which according to its functional and technical specifications do not yield the best foreign analogs, have been developed by the University specialists for companies "ELTODO", "AFL IMPEX”. The complex has successfully passed through the operational tests at the Boryspil airport. It is supposed to develop jointly with foreign companies a complex research program aimed at new lights systems structural upgrade and airports electricity supply that will be agreed with ICAO requirements.

The project "Aircraft Aerodynamic Status Diagnosing to Study the Operating Conditions Influence on Flights Safety Level" was jointly developed by Snecma Group (France), Institute for Hydromechanics of NAS of Ukraine, ASTC named after Antonov, Institute for Space Research of NAS of Ukraine, Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine, Penza Modelling Design Bureau (Russia), JSC "Volga-Dnepr” (Russia), ASTC named after Ilyushin (Russia), Construction Bureau "Luch" (Ukraine), JSC "Uzbekistan havo Yullari (Uzbekistan).

The automated diagnostic system of aircraft aerodynamic state during the operation was developed; pilot PCs for aircrafts Ан-124-100, Іл-62М, Іл-86 were created and put into operation (JSC "Ukraine", "Airlines of Ukraine", "Volga - Dnepr", "Russian Airlines"); aircraft engines CFM-56 emission was investigated, as well as the influence of artificially generated in border layer longitudinal vortices on the aerodynamic characteristics of profile (on demand of the European Office of Aerospace Research of the United States (EOARD)).

The project "Development of Technical and Economic Measures to Ensure the Safety of Antarctic Expeditions” was realized. Negotiations with the National Aerospace Agency CONAE management were held. The result of negotiations is the signed protocol of intentions on the official launch at the National University of Buenos Aires in cooperation with Ukrainian academic institutions research and educational center of mutually beneficial relationships between schools in MERCOSUR and Ukraine, in particular with the NAU. Ukrainian side’s suggestion on different industries specialists training at the University was accepted. Particular attention in the program of joint work is paid to solving problems of aerospace medicine: training and rehabilitation of operators working under extreme conditions (pilots, astronauts, polar explorers in Antarctica, etc.). Scientific and technical problems are outlined for aviation and astronautics development. The stated proposals have been submitted to the National Aerospace Agency of Ukraine to be included in the text of the treaty between Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina on the peaceful cosmos use.

The project "Computer Information Technologies and Air Traffic Services Automation" is performed by the NAU scientists together with the state enterprise "Belaeronavihatsiya”. The research results of dispatching services of air traffic control automation have been introduced. The complex of automated working places of air traffic controllers has been tested and is now used by departments of civil aviation of Ukraine and Belarus.

Important research areas are acoustic monitoring and diagnostics in the audio frequency range, covering a wide range of determining airworthiness of ships and capacity of airports according to the norms of ecological safety in the aviation noise. Integration of on-board monitoring and diagnostic systems with ground-based multi-data analysis and maintenance systems provides a new opportunity to monitor precisely the use of a separate aircraft, resource and life longevity of aircraft systems (subsystems), in particular control and maintenance support to the fleet. These systems allow justify and improve the aircraft flight suitability and their safety, as well as reduce the cost of their services by identifying and diagnosing potential and actual failures through the use of monitoring systems, automated testing procedures and warning of potential equipment failure and data collection for their prevention. The aircraft noise monitoring systems developed at the NAU allow to determine the aircraft flight characteristics such as its speed and climb rate.

The project “Aircraft Noise Forecasting” is realized jointly with the University of Hull, United Kingdom. As a result of the research, new model of aircraft noise in different types of surface coating (that reflects sound waves along the spread way) distribution were developed and justified. The results were published in international and national scientific periodicals. The results are now used and improved during the project implementation "Improvement of Forecasting Models for Aircraft Noise Contours Computing the Engine Installation Effects Part and Sound Spread in Real Operation Conditions”. The work will result in algorithms and software for calculations of noise levels in aircraft certification procedures control points for compliance with noise at various stages of design and operation of aircraft and engines.

Regulation of environmental impact according to the project EU X2-NOISE "Development of Noise Evaluation and Regulation Strategy within the ICAO Balanced Approach and Global Ecological Environmental Capacity” is researched. The University develops draft projects on implementation of advanced information technologies in educational process and scientific activities, actively participates in programs of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) TRAINAIR and many other projects. Two sub-regional training centers of ICAO operate at the University. Quite promising is the project on International Aviation Academy network creation, one of the first members of which was the NAU. Close scientific and technical cooperation develops with the Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), Dresden Technological University (Germany) and with universities in Russia, Britain, France, USA, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Spain, Korea and other countries.

The University cooperates with the ICAO on flights safety issues. The organization recognized the leading role of the University scientists in this field. Secretary General of ICAO K. Perera during his visit to the University suggested that the University complies with international standards and has a clear direction of scientific research in the field of flights safety, development and implementation of information and diagnostic systems.

During his working visit to the NAU Secretary General of International Organization of Aero Navigation Services Providers (САNSO) Olexander ter Kül noted that the level of scientific research at the NAU in the field of flights safety and a comprehensive approach to this problem deserves the highest evaluation. High level of research conducted at the NAU was also recognized by Eurocontrol experts.    The University conducts active patent and licensing activities. The Patent Law now becomes one of the most effective mechanisms of social, economic, scientific-technical, market and innovation policy in Ukraine. This is due to the general processes occurring in the economy of Ukraine. Patent is the preliminary condition for the transfer or receipt of new equipment and technology. The information about the invention having become the society heritage as a result of its patenting, contributes to new technical solutions on its basis.         Today the Internet-Exchange of industrial property exists in Ukraine, which was created by the Ukrainian Center of Innovations and Patent Information Services at the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Institute for Industrial Property." Inventions are usually made in the process of scientific research aimed at new products or technologies creating. Namely inventions determine the global level of any research.

The Scientific and Technical Information and Coordination Department members are working on the legal protection of industrial property. The University has hundreds of valid patents of Ukraine for inventions. The most effective developments that the University finds appropriate to implement will be patented abroad through Internet-Exchange. As regarding specific examples of the patented inventions, these are: a mobile aircraft simulator; aircraft steering ways preventing unauthorized access to the flight control; combined methods to automatically prevent aircraft collision with obstacles; ways of autonomous automatic aircraft landing; ways to determine the ability of oil loss from evaporation; aircraft takeoff speed measurement devices; aerostat platform of communication and broadcasting.

Information about the NAU scientists’ attainments would not be complete without noticing the innovative projects. They are performed in the following areas: research, conducted under international grants and programs - "Follow-up Service of Software Applications of the Automated Aero Navigation System (Belaeronavihatsiya, Belarus-Ukraine-NAU)", "Support of the Content Network on Aviation Noise Functioning, 2 phase (SNEKMA-Motors, France-NAU-Ukraine); "Development and Implementation of Control Laws for Dynamic Stands Being a Part of Complex Simulator (“ПКБМ”, Russia-Ukraine-NAU) "; "Aviation Emergency Training Center in Ukraine (Lund University, Sweden- NAU-Ukraine); "Interaction of Telecommunication Networks while Conferencing (Bulgaria- NAU -Ukraine).

The University also conducts research on request. In particular, on the request of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine - "Electron Beams Use Technology for Medicine and New Materials Production"; "Creation of Holes Mobile Location System for Extended Pipelines, Working under Pressure"; "Creation of Tribological Coatings with Macro- and Nanofillers”; "Development and Manufacture of Highly Secure Intelligent LCD Screens Prototypes for Aviation and Space Industries"; "Developing Technologies of Precise Trajectory Measurements of Global Navigation Satellite System Signals"; on the request of Kyiv City State Administration – “Development of the Traffic Video Monitoring Information System"; "Development of Kiev Traffic Automated Monitoring and Control System and Creation of its Prototype"; on the request of the Ministry of Industrial Policy of Ukraine – “Development and Implementation of Monitoring and Management Complex Hardware and Software for Special Moving Objects”.

The leading role in highly qualified staff training at the University is played by the doctoral candidacy institution and post-graduate courses. A lot of prominent scientists, tutors and professionals of aviation and space industries have passed through their ranks. Admission to post-graduate courses increases each year. Significantly expands the list of post-graduate specialties. Today, the training is carried out in 43 scientific specialties (in 1999 - 19 academic specialties, in 2000 - 22 academic specialties, in 2001 - 26 academic specialties, in 2002 - 33, in 2003, 2004 - 43, in 2005 - 45, in 2006 – 50; in 2007, 2008, 2009 – 43).

In 2009 new scientific specialties were open at the post-graduate courses: "Devices, Methods, and Composition of Substances" and "Psychology of Activity in Special Circumstances”. In recent years the NAU holds the International Scientific Conference "Avia", which brings together leading scientists, researchers, developers and operators of aviation equipment from Ukraine and abroad. The conference topics included the following areas: modern aviation technology, aerospace systems for monitoring and control, information and diagnostic systems, airports and their infrastructure, economics, management, humanities, aviation and space law.

Besides, the University conducted: international congress “Aviation of the XXI Century", scientific and practical conference "Safety of Human Vital Activity", scientific and practical conference "Problems of Agricultural Aviation”, national conference "Non-Destructive Testing and Technical Diagnostics”; scientific and technical conferences "Construction of Airports" and "Problems of Computer-aided Design of Lighting Systems”. The purpose of all these events is the analysis of global trends, the overview of practical, experimental and theoretical achievements in the global science and the identification of Ukraine as a country with a strong scientific and technical potential.

An essential part of academic life at university is the students` research. An important component in the way of attracting students to scientific research is participating in student research groups working at departments. Students` research results were reported at universities of the United States, France, Russia and other countries. Several grants based on the reports were received, including such prestigious as "Student Hypervelocity Impact Society" (USA) grant. Annually international conferences for students and young scientists "Polit", “Science and the Youth” are held.

One of the indicators of research results level is their participation in relevant scientific and technical exhibitions. University’s innovative developments were demonstrated at many exhibitions. This is the International Aviation and Space Salon “Aviasvit XXI” at the first place; the exhibition-presentation “Scientific Research and Technology of Ukraine in Socialist Republic of Vietnam”; the national exhibition of high technologies and competitive products “Ukrtechnology”; “Colorful Ukraine”.

Even the shortened list of the research makes it possible to conclude that the NAU team of scientists has found its creative way and this is not just an artificial selection of thematic areas, but a prudent response to the needs of modern civilized society - a society where dominant is the human factor, not temporary technogenic achievements.

In recent years, the scientific structure of the university became more balanced and clearly outlined, the basic fields are:

• development of research projects;
• creation of applied-research and inter-industry laboratories and centers;
• participation in the priority research programs;
• conducting all-university research events;
• training of scientific personnel of highest qualification.

The NAU`s scientists primarily focus their efforts on national programs implementation, namely: the complex national program on high technologies development (the customer is the Ministry of Industrial Policy), the national space program of Ukraine (the customer is the National Space Agency of Ukraine), the project of the city administration on regulating traffic in Kiev, the state program “Information and Telecommunication Technologies in Education and Science for 2006 – 2010” (the customer is the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine); and international programs, such as the VI Framework Program of European Commission (Communication from the Commission "The International Dimension of the European Research Area”), VII Framework Program of the European Commission “Integrated GALILEO-Aircraft System for Advanced Environment Investigation”, “Investigation of radioechos GNSS signals for surface performances estimation”, “Raising of reliability of information in the GALILEO system at the presence of correlated noise and interference”.

Urgent problems of today largely determine the contours of scientific research at the National Aviation University. In particular, much attention is paid to aircraft flight management systems and flight control of small unmanned aircraft. The intensive scientific research is on in the direction of traffic prediction with the implementation of artificial intellect concept. An automated information system of forecasting and its interaction with the traffic control complex was created. The NAU`s scientists study methods of organizing the security information assessment systems in computer systems, as well as systems to detect attacks and prevent unauthorized access to the flight control, etc.