Nicoletta Fala

AAE Ph.D student Nicoletta Fala received the William T. Piper Sr. General Aviation Systems Graduate Award, presented by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Fala, whose award was $1,000, is working with the Federal Aviation Administration’s PEGASAS Center of Excellence to investigate how to use various types of flight data to help pilots operate more safely. Fala’s research focuses on the recreational GA pilot, representing risk to pilots so they are motivated to change their behavior.

“As an active member of the General Aviation community, my work in general aviation safety is personal, as it impacts the safety of those around me and some of my closest friends,” Fala says. “This award fuels my passion for my research and encourages me to continue doing the best in terms of promoting the field and improving our safety record.”

Fala also has created algorithms to identify phase of flight, a machine learning code that automatically classifies and labels flight, and is developing a low-cost AHRS device.

In addition to Fala’s research, she also is a commercial pilot and currently is completing training to become a flight instructor.

Fala competed in the Air Race Classic in June. She’s the president of Purdue Pilots, Inc., and flew with co-pilot Cathy Troyer, who is pursuing a master’s in aviation management. Morgan Pietruch, also is an AAE student, was the team’s third member.