2026 Airport Engineering Onsite Seminar

A UNC Charlotte Professional Development Program

Please make plans to join us October 20 & 21, 2026.

Our annual seminar will feature presentations by industry, government, and academic experts in airport design, construction, operation, and maintenance. The UNC Charlotte’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and The Charlotte Aviation Innovation and Research (AIR) Institute, have partnered with Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and the Sullenberger Aviation Museum.

The two-day program will be held at CLT Airport and includes shuttles to an immersive behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. Licensed engineers and architects can earn professional development hours (PDHs), and the event is open to anyone interested in learning more about this growing field. The $750 registration fee covers all meals, refreshment/networking breaks, and transportation between the seminar and tour locations (available to the first 100 registrants). Attendees will have the chance to connect with professionals, educators, and industry leaders through informative sessions and valuable networking opportunities. For more information and to register, please visit this page. 

This seminar is open to engineers, architects and related professionals who have an interest in aviation related topics within civil engineering. The intent of the program is to provide attendees with information on the latest methods and trends in concrete pavements, airport safety and security during construction, lighting and marking, and airport financing. The technical information presented will be linked to practical applications in the CLT working laboratory, taking attendees to the projects at the Airport where these trends are being applied every day.

Date: Tuesday and Wednesday, October 20-21, 2026

Times: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday; 8:30 AM – 4:00PM Wednesday

Seminar Location: Sullenberger Aviation Museum

4108 Minuteman Way Charlotte, NC 28208

Parking Location: Modern Aviation Air Terminal

5319 Morris Field Dr. Charlotte, NC 28208

Suggested Hotels:

Please note:

For security reasons, please be prepared to present a government-issued ID which displays your…

  • First, middle, and last name
  • Date of birth
  • Address

Schedule

Monday, October 19, 2026

NEW:  Aviation Career Fair held on UNC Charlotte’s Campus!

Come recruit new talent for internships and full-time positions! Seminar Sponsors receive priority access to our Career Fair – secure your table before general registration opens!

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

  • Welcome: 9:00AM to 9:30AM
  • Session 1: 9:30AM – 10:15AM – Airline Industry Update
  • Break: 10:15AM – 10:45AM
  • Session 2: 10:45AM – 12:00PM – FAA Updates, Structure and AC Changes / FAA Tech Center Updates
  • Lunch: 12:00PM – 1:30PM, Keynote Speaker (always a great surprise!)
  • Session 3: 1:30PM – 2:45PM – Robotics Systems at Airports:  Heathrow
  • Break: 2:45PM – 3:15PM
  • Session 4: 3:15PM – 4:30PM – Public Safety: Fire & Safety Engineering at Airports
  • Happy Hour: 4:30PM – 7:00PM – don’t miss this event with live music, great food, great views, and networking!

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

  • Session 5: 8:30AM – 9:45AM – USDOT/NCDOT Aviation Updates
  • Break: 9:45AM – 10:15AM
  • Session 6: 10:15AM – 11:30AM – Airport Resilience: Design and Development
  • Session 7: 11:30AM – 1:00PM – Application of AI in Planning, Design, and Construction 
  • Lunch: 11:30PM – 1:00PM
  • Behind-the-Scenes Airport Tours: 1:00PM – 4:00PM (Hurry – tours are open to only the first 100 registrants indicating they’d like to participate!)

General Questions?  Please email us at air-institute@charlotte.edu

Please direct questions regarding sponsorships and registration to Sara Watson at swatso34@charlotte.edu