Ayush Kamboj, an aerospace engineering researcher from Sirsa, Haryana, has been selected for the 2026 IFA/Cranfield John Saull Scholarship, instituted by the International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA) in association with Cranfield University, UK.
The award was formally presented on November 10, 2026, during the John Saull Memorial Lecture at Cranfield University.
An alumnus of Cranfield University, Kamboj holds an MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design. His academic and research interests include aircraft systems engineering, airworthiness and aviation safety, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), advanced fuel systems and the integration of emerging technologies into aircraft design.
Kamboj has also made a research contribution to aerospace safety through a peer-reviewed paper co-authored with Dr Yicheng Sun, titled Integrating Computer-Aided Design and Model-Based Systems Engineering for Early Zonal Hazard Analysis: Application to a Supersonic Aircraft Fuel System, published in the journal Aerospace (MDPI) on April 28, 2026.
The research explores how integrating computer-aided design (CAD) with model-based systems engineering can facilitate earlier identification of potential hazards and improve safety assessment during the conceptual design of supersonic aircraft.
During his MSc studies, Kamboj received Cranfield University’s Course Director’s Prize for Best Thesis, recognising his academic achievement.
As part of the scholarship, he has opted to undertake Cranfield University’s Airworthiness Fundamentals short course, which will further strengthen his understanding of aviation safety, regulatory frameworks and aircraft certification.
The John Saull Scholarship commemorates the contribution of John Saull to aviation safety and airworthiness and supports the professional development of the next generation of aviation engineers and airworthiness specialists.
