Keynote Speakers
(Names sorted in alphabetical order)
Asteris Apostolidis
Senior Lead, Technical Innovation, Netherlands
Presentation Title: Enablement of Data-driven Aircraft Fleet Management
Enablement of Data-driven Aircraft Fleet Management
FleetLab is a transversal KLM initiative designed to bridge the domains of Engineering & Maintenance, Network, Fleet Services, and Fleet Development through data-driven collaboration and innovation. Positioned at the intersection of operations, engineering, and digital technology, FleetLab leverages the combined expertise of these functions—supported by BlueLabs’ advanced analytics and AI capabilities—to deliver holistic insights into fleet performance and lifecycle optimization.
The initiative addresses one of the most significant opportunities in aviation: reducing inefficiencies that collectively amount to hundreds of millions in avoidable costs. By integrating predictive models, real-time data streams, and historical analysis, FleetLab enables KLM to identify and act on early signals of over-maintenance, material waste, and suboptimal scheduling decisions. The outcomes translate into higher aircraft uptime, improved operational resilience, and better alignment between technical readiness and network planning.
Beyond cost efficiency, FleetLab redefines how data supports decision-making across the airline’s ecosystem, fostering a culture of evidence-based collaboration. It exemplifies KLM’s commitment to innovation through unity—where technical depth, operational experience, and digital intelligence converge to create tangible strategic advantage and unlock new value across the fleet’s full lifecycle.
Dr. Asteris Apostolidis serves as Senior Lead for Technical Innovation at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, overseeing the implementation and scaling of advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, and Autonomous Systems, across multiple divisions. He has an extensive background with airlines, academic institutions, and aerospace OEMs. An expert in engineering simulation, Asteris specialises in trustworthy AI and Data Exchange Systems for safety-critical applications. He is a founding member of EASA’s Regulatory Committee for Artificial Intelligence and has served on several institutional, industrial, and academic working groups. He also contributes as an Advisory Board member for Horizon Europe and national research projects, as well as a technical expert for the European Commission. An active researcher, he is affiliated with Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences as a Senior Associate, where he previously held the position of Associate Professor of Digital MRO. Dr. Apostolidis holds a PhD in Computational Aerothermodynamics from Cranfield University.
1- Fleet Management
2- Maintenance Planning
3- Airline Network
4- Data-driven decision making
5- Sustainable aviation
Chingiz Hajiyev
Istanbul Gelisim University, Dept. of Aeronautical Engineering
Presentation Title: Difference Kalman Filter with Adaptive Threshold Against Time-Varying Systematic Measurement Errors
Difference Kalman Filter with Adaptive Threshold Against Time-Varying Systematic Measurement Errors
The article proposes a difference Kalman filter (DKF) that takes into account unknown systematic measurement errors. In this case, the filtering algorithm estimates the differences between two successive states. The differences between two successive measurements are used as measurements, as a result of which the systematic measurement errors mutually exclude each other. It is shown that in the presence of time-varying systematic measurement error, using constant confidence bounds to detect faults in the DKF will lead to normal measurements being considered faulty after a certain time. Therefore, it is proposed to define adaptive confidence bounds for the normalized innovation sequence of DKF at each estimation step. The developed filter can be widely used in practice, in particular, when processing information in inertial navigation systems, in which errors slowly grow over time and these errors are unlimited.
Prof.Dr. Chingiz Hajiyev, graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute, Moscow, Russia, with honors in 1981. He received his Ph.D. and DSc (Eng) degrees in Process Control in 1987 and 1993, respectively.
From 1987 to 1994 he worked as a Scientific Worker, Senior Scientific Worker, Chief of the Information-Measurement Systems Dept. at the ASPA “Neftgazavtomat”. From 1994 to 1996 he was a Leading – Scientific Worker at the Institute of Cybernetics of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Republic. He was also a Professor in the Department of Electronically-Calculated System Design, Azerbaijan Technical University, where he had been teaching 1995-1996.
He joined to Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey in 1996 as a Professor. From 2016 to 2023, he was also Head of the Aeronautical Engineering Department. He is the author more than 600 scientific publications including 15 books, 40 book chapters and more than 400 international journal and international conference papers. More than 100 scientific papers are published in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) journals. His research interests include attitude determination and control, fault diagnosis, fault tolerant control, Kalman filtering and integrated navigation systems
1- Navigation
2- Fault diagnosis
3- Fault tolerant control
4- Kalman filtering
5- Satellite attitude determination and control
Eva Melaviti
College of Aviation, Worldwide Campus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USA
Presentation Title: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Workforce; Training for Innovation and the Future of Aviation Maintenance
Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Workforce; Training for Innovation and the Future of Aviation Maintenance
Aviation is entering a new era of rapid technological transformation, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, new propulsion systems and fuels, and increasing system complexity. While these innovations promise significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and sustainability, their successful adoption depends on a critical yet often overlooked factor: workforce preparedness. The goal of this keynote is to highlight the issue that aviation maintenance training systems are not evolving at the same pace as the technologies they are expected to support. Traditionally designed around stability, compliance, and procedural execution, current training approaches may limit the industry’s ability to effectively integrate innovation into operational practice. Focusing on academia’s role, the presentation highlights the need to shift toward innovation-oriented training. This includes fostering systems thinking, interdisciplinary knowledge, data literacy, and continuous learning environments that mirror the dynamic nature of modern aviation. Education pathways must act as bridges between research and real-world application, enabling experimentation and early exposure to emerging technologies. The future of aviation maintenance innovation will be determined not only by technological breakthroughs but by how effectively the next generation of professionals is trained to understand, trust, and implement them.
Dr Eva Maleviti is an Assistant Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). After a long-term career in the aerospace industry as academic coordinator and consultant in MROs and airlines, in 2022 she joined ERAU as the program coordinator of the MS in Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability. She has been involved in various industry projects related to aviation sustainability strategies, ESG plans, and other aviation-related initiatives. Dr Maleviti also works as a technical expert for aviation emission metrics and calculations in the Accreditation System of Greece for ICAO CORSIA and EU-ETS schemes. She is involved in industry training for aviation topics, such as human factors, aviation legislation, safety, quality management and auditing techniques, and other EASA-related courses. She is involved in research projects regarding the adoption of environmental management systems in aviation, energy management in aviation buildings, professionals’ perspectives in aviation sustainability, airports, hydrogen certification, and standardization. She has authored over 15 journal publications, presented at more than 30 international conferences and industrial workshops. She is the author of two books: Fundamentals of Sustainable Aviation and Energy Management and Renewable Energy, and she is a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. She has a Ph.D. in Sustainability, Energy and Environment, an MSc in Sustainable Development and a Graduate certificate in Aviation Maintenance.
- Academia
- Innovation
- MRO training
- aviation education
- sustainability
Islam Isgandarov
ISATECH - Azerbaijan Chapter
Presentation Title: Methods and means for improving the accuracy of GPS receivers
Methods and means for improving the accuracy of GPS receivers
In this work are analyzed various factors affecting GNSS positioning accuracy, as well as methods and tools for addressing these issues.
The capabilities of the most common methods and tools for improving the accuracy of satellite navigation systems are also discussed.
This paper analyzes the capabilities of approximating GPS receiver data using MS Excel. The energy parameters of the satellite-to-GPS receiver communication channel are calculated using the MatLab (MatCad) software environment. A developed regression analysis method for linear and parabolic regression is proposed. A model of a GPS receiver based on the NEO-7M kit, as well as the NEO-6M kit with and without a low-noise amplifier, is presented, as well as a schematic diagram of a low-noise amplifier based on the MGA-655T6 low-noise transistor, implemented in the Proteus environment. Analysis of data obtained by the NEO-6M GPS module and calculations using regression analysis in MS Excel showed that, after statistical processing, the accuracy of coordinate measurements can be increased to 2–5 m, allowing some navigation tasks to be solved without the use of additional tools.
It is shown that the polynomial approximation method with a second-degree polynomial with 25 dimensions can provide a reliability coefficient close to 1 (0.98).
Graduated from the Sevastopol Instrument-making Institute (Crimea, Ukraine) in 1985. In the direction from 1985 to 1995 he worked at the Institute of Photoelectronics of Azerbaijan as an engineer, applicant. Since 1995 he has been working at the NAA , in the positions of senior researcher, head of the laboratory, head of the department, since 2005 head of various departments. Currently, the head of the department “Aerospace instruments”. Engaged in scientific and pedagogical work, supervises master’s and doctoral dissertations, grant and state budget projects. Develops new educational programs, curriculum, work programs for special disciplines. Islam is engaged in research in the electronic and automated systems, also aerospace engineering. His current project is “Modern Problems of Aviation Avionics Systems”. His main research interests are in the development of models, sensors and devices for non-contact monitoring of electrical parameters, navigation system parameters, weight and center of gravity measurement systems. He is also engaged in research in the direction of studying and developing nanosensors for various fields. Also works on issues of processing radar and radio navigation systems signals using modern methods and means, in particular filters and MEMS modules. He has about 200 scientific papers, including more than 70 journal articles.
1 – Non-contact measurements
2 – Modern sensors
3 – Improvement of avionics
4 – Aerospace devices
5 – Information and measuring systems based on MEMS
Okan Özkan
myTECHNIC MRO Technical Services A.S., Türkiye
Presentation Title: AI, Robots and Digital Twins: Building the Next-Generation Aircraft MRO Ecosystem
AI, Robots and Digital Twins: Building the Next-Generation Aircraft MRO Ecosystem
The aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector is under simultaneous pressure from tighter turnaround times, workforce constraints, increasing regulatory complexity and ambitious sustainability targets. This keynote explores how three converging technologies—artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and digital twins—can together enable a next-generation MRO ecosystem that is safer, smarter and more sustainable.
First, we examine AI as the “brain” of the system, focusing on use cases such as predictive and prescriptive maintenance, intelligent technical documentation search and AI-supported quality assurance. Second, we discuss robots as the “hands and feet” in the hangar, including autonomous logistics robots and inspection platforms that offload repetitive and ergonomically challenging tasks from technicians. Third, we present digital twins of aircraft, hangars and processes as the “nervous system and memory” that integrates data, simulates operations and orchestrates resources in real time.
Practical implementation steps, from data standardization to targeted pilots and ecosystem-level integration, are outlined. Throughout, the human remains at the center, with technology designed to augment—not replace—technical expertise.
Okan ÖZKAN is R&D and Business Development Director, at myTECHNIC MRO Technical Services and ISO:27001 Lead Auditor, with over 20 years’ experience in software development, project management, and innovation. He leads ICT and R&D, overseeing software projects, vendor management, and cost-benefit analysis, and implemented in-house maintenance management software and TUBITAK-TEYDEB projects. He certified myTECHNIC as an R&D Center in 2018. Previously, he was IT Manager at Group SAGUN, Network & Software Manager at MNG Kargo A.Ş., and Software Engineer at KALEDATA Group. He also worked at Eastern Mediterranean University on campus security systems and as a microprocessors assistant. He holds a master’s in computer engineering (Haliç University), a BS in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (Eastern Mediterranean University), a BA in business administration, and a pre-bachelor’s in justice (Anadolu University). Fluent in English, he has expertise in programming, ERPs, and databases. He is President of ARGEMIP, a DEIK member, and serves on advisory boards at Halic University, GTU and Eskisehir Technical Universities. He is also a member of EMO and TBD. His interests include scuba diving, sailing, golf, woodworking, and model making.
1- Robotic Systems
2- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
3- Innovation Management
Samira Keivanpour
Polytechnique Montreal – Associate Professor
Presentation Title: Closing the Loop Under Global Constraints: Driving MRO Longevity Through Local Capacity
Closing the Loop Under Global Constraints: Driving MRO Longevity Through Local Capacity
Recent global supply chain disruptions have shown the vulnerabilities of linear MRO strategies. To maintain operations, the industry must shift toward circular models that prioritize asset longevity and material sovereignty.
This keynote introduces a dynamic framework to help decision-makers build resilient, closed-loop systems by addressing four interdependent pillars. We will examine the Technology required to extend material lifecycles through remanufacturing, coupled with the localized Supply Chains necessary to overcome global bottlenecks. These operational shifts must be supported by robust Governance structures that certify the safety of recovered components, and sustainable Human Capital strategies that develop the specialized workforce needed to manage this transition. By combining these elements, operators can reduce overseas dependency and secure long-term, regional industrial capacity.
Samira Keivanpour is an Associate Professor of Mathematical and Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique Montreal, Canada, and heads the Poly Circle X.0 lab. Her research focuses on sustainable manufacturing and logistics within the framework of Circular Economy X.0. She explores the application of ML/RL for enhancing triple bottom line (3BL) impact, with applications in end-of-life products, circular manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies to drive sustainable solutions. She is a member of CIRODD, GERAD, and CIRRELT.
1- Circular Manufacturing,
2- Circular Design
3- Sustainable Aviation
4- Decision Intelligence
Name Surname
Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Türkiye
Presentation Title: Title
Title
Content
Content
1- Navigation
2- Fault diagnosis
3- Fault tolerant control
4- Kalman filtering
5- Satellite attitude determination and control