Dr. Bettina Mrusek

Associate Professor, College of Aviation; Department Chair, College of Aeronautics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Dr. Mrusek served in the United States Marine Corps for 14 years where she worked as an avionics communication/navigation technician and supervisor for multiple aircraft platforms. She joined Embry Riddle in 2014 and has led both graduate and undergraduate degree programs. Dr. Mrusek is currently serving as the Department Chair for the Undergraduate Studies Department in the College of Aeronautics for Embry Riddle’s Worldwide campus. She has published research in aviation maintenance, human factors, organizational leadership, and unmanned systems. She has a wide array of knowledge and experience with human factors, aircraft maintenance and inspections, unmanned aircraft systems, and business management.

Education

Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration: Management, Northcentral University
M.S. – Master of Science in Aeronautics: Space Studies and Unmanned Aerospace Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
M.B.A. – Master of Business Administration, Park University

Sustainable ATO - Flying to Net Zero

Net Zero Pathways and goals apply to all aviation industry sectors. Emission schemes, design specificiations and sustainable fuels are some of the most popular changes applied to airlines and manufacturers. However, from the sustainability perspective, all aviation operations and organizations can contribute to Net Zero goals and define their contribution to that direction with direct or indirect practices and approaches. The core topic of this presentation is how ATO/pilot schools contribute to the Net Zero Goals and a Sustainable Aviation future. New technologies used in ATOs, like Synthetic Flight Training, Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR), are examples of sustainable transformation of the training process. Well-known practices like Reduced Vertical Seperation Minima (RVSM) and Continuous Decent Final Approach (CDFA) support aviation sustainability through ATOs training. ATOs are also contributing to environmental and economic sustainability through the social aspect. Today’s trainees are tomorrow’s pilots who should be the leaders of sustainable air operations. The ICAO Carbon Offsetting Requirement Scheme for International Airlines (CORSIA) relies heavily on the firm and reliable information in the operators’ MRV system. Proper emission calculation requires flight crews to feed valid and accurate flight information data. PBN is also a core element for environmental sustainability that derives from ATOs training for pilots. ATOs play a decisive role in aviation sustainability, creating and supporting an emerging sustainable culture for young pilots. Why ATOs’ contribution to Net Zero goals is essential? How can ATOs transform the existing culture and enhance a new one through their training schemes without compromising safety? How can they become a sustainable organization as a training school but also as a facility- are some of the topics addressed in this presentation.