Program overview
Air Transportation is a subfield of Transportation Engineering under the Engineering category. It focuses on how aircraft fly safely, how airports operate efficiently, and how airlines make money. In simple terms, it's about being the 'dispatcher' and 'planner' of the aviation system. Core courses include: Flight Principles, Air Traffic Management, Airport Planning and Design, Aviation Transport Economics, Aviation Safety and Emergency Management, and Aviation Logistics. You'll learn how to use radar and communication systems to direct aircraft takeoffs and landings, how to optimize routes to save fuel for airlines, and how to design terminals so passengers don't get lost. This program suits students with a solid foundation in math and physics, a knack for logical analysis, and a passion for aviation. If you're more interested in the aircraft itself (like engines), you might prefer Aircraft Design; but if you want to know 'how to schedule flights' or 'how to prevent airport congestion,' this is your fit. Chinese universities have unique advantages in this field: for example, Beihang University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Civil Aviation University of China have close partnerships with major domestic airlines, airports, and air traffic control bureaus. Students have opportunities for internships and even direct involvement in real projects. China is building the world's largest air transport market, and many courses incorporate domestic cases, such as the design of Beijing Daxing Airport and the operation of Chengdu Tianfu Airport—these hands-on experiences are invaluable.