Cranfield University began construction in January of 2019 on the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) in Cranfield in the United Kingdom. Designed by Burrell Foley Fischer, the £65 million project will provide technology-rich laboratory spaces adjoining a live aerodrome with a hangar, a 737-400 aircraft, an intelligent movement area, and a remote air traffic control center with next-generation radar systems. The complex will feature open offices and a two-story atrium with integrated breakout areas to promote interaction and collaboration. Accommodating research on aircraft sensing equipment for visual, thermal, and load distribution, the facility will support digital maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) studies, as well as the development of autonomous airport ground handling vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Curtins is providing structural, civil, and geotechnical engineering services. Industry partners in DARTeC include Thales, Raytheon, SAAB, Monarch, and Aveillant. Occupancy is expected in early 2020.
