People in the news Ogilvie honoured for services to engineering

Keywords: Aerospace industry, Engineering

Director of Aerodynamics and deputy head of Overall Aircraft Design for the Airbus A380, Francis Ogilvie, has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Hertfordshire.

Francis was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science award by Professor Neil Buxton, vice-chancellor of the university. He received his degree in recognition of his distinguished contribution to engineering.

Francis emigrated to the UK, from South Africa in 1962. He joined the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield as an engineering apprentice. From there he went on to study for a BSc hons in Aeronautical Engineering firom the Hatfield Polytechnic, followed by an MSc at Imperial.

He has contributed to the aerodynamic design of all the Airbus family of aircraft as well as the Bae 125-800 Corporate Jets. In 1992 he became chief engineer for British Aerospace Corporate Jets Limited. In 1996 he transferred to Airbus Industrie in Toulouse, where he is currently the director of Aerodynamics and deputy head of Overall Aircraft Design for the Airbus A380 new large aircraft.

The annual degree ceremonies are held in the Abbey and Cathedral Church of St. Albans, UK.