Perceptions of the Inclusion of Electric Propulsion Curriculum in Collegiate Aviation Maintenance Programs by Faculty and Industry Professionals

Abstract

The aerospace industry is currently in a phase of rapid change with the development of new technologies such as electric and hydrogen propulsion, fully electric aircraft, artificial intelligence, and uncrewed flight. Educators in collegiate programs may face challenges incorporating new propulsion technologies into their classes. There are standards developed and issued by professional organizations such as IEEE and ASTM that may be used to facilitate the transition from petroleum-based aircraft propulsion to include electric propulsion in course materials. This paper seeks 1) to increase the understanding of the challenges that faculty and industry professionals face when they are seeking to incorporate electric propulsion into their courses and curricula, and 2) to increase the understanding of which standards faculty and industry professionals are aware of and how those standards are used in developing curricula. This exploratory study identifies the major challenges, the standards used, and the potential gaps in understanding the use of standards in learning materials.