T. Wilson Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Engineering Systems
Head, Division of Humans and Automation
Director, International Center for Air Transportation

Dr. R. John Hansman currently is a professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, where he is head of the Humans and Automation Division . He also is director of the International Center for Air Transportation. His current research interests focus on advanced cockpit information systems, including Flight Management Systems, Air-Ground Datalink, Electronic Charting, Advanced Alerting Systems, and Flight Crew Situational Awareness.

Dr. Hansman received a Ph.D. from MIT in 1982. He holds 6 U.S. Patents and has authored over 250 technical publications. He is also an internationally recognized expert in aviation meteorological hazards such as icing and windshear. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He received the 1998 Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 1997 FAA Excellence in Aviation Award, the 1994 Losey Atmospheric Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the 1990 OSTIV Diploma for Technical Contributions and the 1986 AIAA Award for Best Paper in Thermophysics. He recently served as Co-Chair of the MIT Presidential Task Force on Student Life and Learning.

Dr. Hansman consults and serves as a member of numerous advisory and technical committees including the Congressional Aeronautics Advisory Committee, the FAA Research and Development Advisory Committee, the FAA WAAS Independent Review Board, and the NASA Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Executive Steering Committee. He serves on several editorial boards including the Air Traffic Control Quarterly. He has over 5650 hours of pilot in-command time in airplanes, helicopters and sailplanes, including meteorological, production and engineering flight test experience.

News and announcements:

Prof. Hansman in USA Today – Airline Passengers: Be sure to pack patience this summer (May 15, 2008)

Prof. Hansman in USA Today – Air trips slowest in past 20 years (April 18, 2008)

Prof. Jon Hansman quoted in USA Today and New York Magazine (November 8, 2007)

Clogged airports: A plan to cut N.Y.C. air traffic (quoting Prof. John Hansman) (October 25, 2007)

Airspace where there's no room, Ideas to unclog skies over NYC divide the players Prof. Hansman quoted in Boston.com (October 15, 2007)

Prof. Hansman quoted in USA Today (June 21, 2006)

Prof. Hansman received Commerical Air Transport Laurel (February 28, 2005)