NEWS · 2026-02-26 · BMAA New Horizons Initiative

BMAA New Horizons welcomes Cranfield

Cranfield joins the New Horizons initiative: universities and colleges partnering with the BMAA to give students hands-on experience of designing, building and testing a real microlight aircraft.

Professor Dame Helen Atkinson, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Cranfield University:

"This is an amazing opportunity for Cranfield students, and the opportunity to participate in an aircraft build, and carry out research projects on a real aircraft, is the sort of thing that makes Cranfield unique. We're very grateful to the British Microlight Aircraft Association for this opportunity and look forward very much to working with them." - Professor Dame Helen Atkinson, deputy Vice Chancellor, Cranfield University.

Owain Johns, CEO, British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA):

"We’re delighted to partner with Cranfield University. Their impressive bid not only met all our criteria but also demonstrated a clear understanding of the educational value this project offers. Having previously awarded projects to secondary schools and air cadets, this new partnership broadens the reach of New Horizons, opening opportunities to a wider range of learners and inspiring future engineers and pilots. We also look forward to exploring further collaborative opportunities with Cranfield that will benefit both organisations."