Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will open a new College of Business building this week at its Daytona Beach, Fla., campus. The $13 million, 54,000-square-foot facility will house ERAU’s aviation operations simulations lab, formerly located in the flight simulator building. Researchers use the lab to test various operational scenarios, such as what it takes to unload and reload a jet on time, and then use this data to help operators maximize efficiency. Daniel Petree, dean of the business school, told AVweb that he is actively courting air taxi operators to the program.
“We’d love to have partnerships with them,” he said. Airtran was the launch customer for the lab about three years ago, and currently Airbus and Boeing are using it to develop simulation models for boarding their latest products, the A380 and the 787 Dreamliner. The new building is part of a $125 million expansion effort at the Daytona Beach campus that includes additions to the aviation complex and several administration buildings. A residence hall and a fitness center were completed last year.
