This week, Rhonda Walthall, Fellow, Prognostics & Health Management at Collins Aerospace, joins host Grayson Brulte for a conversation that looks at the role of predictive analytics and aircraft health management systems in creating safer and more efficient air travel.

Rhonda brings us back to her early memories of idolizing fellow Ohioan Neil Armstrong and how he influenced her childhood dreams of being an astronaut and ultimately attending Purdue University to become an aeronautical engineer. She shares stories of her role in the development of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, including becoming the first civilian woman to fly on the aircraft, and what that aircraft’s legacy is to history.

The conversation covers how aircraft health management systems are helping reduce tarmac delays to eliminate delays and create smoother travel experiences; what efforts Collins Aerospace is undertaking as a leader in this space; and how detailed monitoring can reduce heavy maintenance checks that mean less work and less costs for airlines.

Rhonda digs into her other passion of supporting young women entering STEM fields and some of the programs that she and Collins are involved with to get more kids interested in science and engineering. The conversation closes out with some insight into when commercial travel will rebound and what role urban air mobility technology will play in the future of aviation.

Learn more about Collins Aerospace at https://www.collinsaerospace.com/.

Subscribe to SAE Tomorrow Today or visit www.sae.org/podcasts to stay up to date on all the latest information from SAE. If you like what you’re hearing, please review and comment on your podcast app.

Follow SAE on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.