Prestwick Branch: Engineering Change - Insights from an Aerospace Engineer Turned Airline Pilot

The February 2027 lecture will provide an inspiring insight into a career which developed from an aerospace engineer to commercial pilot and how that led to winning the Women in Aviation Award in the Aviation Industry Awards of 2025. The industry awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of all UK aviation stakeholders, from airlines and airports to cutting-edge manufacturers and innovative suppliers. The prestigious programme showcases the innovation, dedication, and leadership that drive the industry's success and is judged by a prestigious panel of industry leaders, renowned for their extensive knowledge, enthusiasm, and expertise in the aviation industry.

Speaker: Deborah (Debbie) Thomas is a UK aerospace engineer and commercial airline pilot. She studied mathematics and astrophysics, then built a long engineering career at Airbus, working on aircraft such as the A380 and A350 in modelling and systems engineering. She later retrained as a pilot and became a Senior First Officer flying Airbus A320 family aircraft for a large European carrier. During the Covid period, she joined the UK government-backed FlyZero programme, contributing as an Aircraft Modeller to research on zero-carbon, sustainable aircraft. Her career is notable for combining hands-on airline flying experience with extensive aerospace engineering expertise, particularly in future sustainable aviation development.