Purdue News

April 23, 2003 Aviation students share information at Chinese university WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Five Purdue University students crossed the Pacific over spring break to share the latest techniques in airport management with their counterparts at the Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC). The group, which will share its experiences at a special presentation on Tuesday (4/29), also included three of their instructors from the Department of Aviation Management in the School of Technology. The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will be 4-5 p.m. in Knoy Hall, Room 202. CAUC invited the group to China to share information that would improve international aviation safety. "The Chinese are planning to build 100 new airports over the next eight years, and both our universities have a vested interest in protecting passengers who travel through them," said Christy Brazee, postdoctoral research and teaching associate in the department. "This trip was a great chance to exchange ideas on how to improve airport security and learn more about each other's cultures as well." While the group spent much time exchanging management techniques with their colleagues, many of the group members said that the cultural experience was of equal, if not greater, value than the professional knowledge gained. "I had never been to the Far East before," said Kevin Bidwell, one of the students in the group. "I think both we and the Chinese students were curious about each other. We found that though airports have the same problems everywhere, cultures have their own idiosyncrasies, and being aware of them will be important if and when I am ever working in an airline's overseas office." In addition to Bidwell, the group included students Christin Capriglione from Kendallville, Ind., Tara Trimmer from Ellington, Mo., Shannon Thomas from Rome, Ga., and Yuu-Ching Cheng from Taipei, Taiwan. CONTACT: Christy Brazee, (765) 496-7748, cabrazee@tech.purdue.edu. Writer: Chad Boutin, (765) 494-2081, cboutin@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page