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ENCS welcomes new aerospace advisor 

The name’s Fews, Bob Fews

By Anna Sarkissian

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You would think that being granted “top-secret” security clearance by the British government would be a great story to tell one day. It doesn’t quite work out that way, says Robert Fews, because, well, you can’t actually talk about it.

Fews joined the university last November as the new Aerospace Special Advisor for the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, bringing along a wealth of industry experience and knowledge – though some of it is classified.

Born in England, he started working for British Aerospace (BAe), then called Bristol Airplane Company, as a student apprentice when he was 16. After five years, he became a professional engineer and helped design components for the Concorde. He ended up on BAe’s test team and was on the tarmac when the famed Rolls Royce Olympus 593-powered supersonic transport first took flight.

“It was magnificent,” Fews said of the experience.

He completed his master’s and PhD in aircraft design at Cranfield Institute of Technology in Bedford, England. After graduating, he was offered a position at Canadair and moved to Montreal to become senior staff specialist for the Challenger executive jet program.

In 1984, he joined Bell Helicopter and worked on helicopter and tilt rotor programs at their head office in Texas until their Mirabel plant opened in 1986. Once back in Quebec, he assumed various roles including chief engineer, manager of technology and director of research. He led the Canadian branch of the Bell XworX research facility and introduced a number of significant research collaborations to the Canadian research infrastructure. He retired in 2009.

“It was a great career,” Fews said. “I hope to pass on enthusiasm and passion to some of the students here,” he said.

At Concordia, Fews will facilitate the creation and promotion of internship and apprenticeship opportunities for ENCS students with the Quebec aerospace industry. He will engage both faculty and research administration and promote the program and activities internally and externally.

Earlier this month, Fews participated in Premier Jean Charest’s mission to India with President Judith Woodsworth to establish relations with Indian educational institutions (see Journal, Feb. 11, 2010). He was also examining ways to create industry-university collaborative research between both countries.

“The university is serious about maintaining its leadership in aerospace,” he said, adding he has plans to build on the existing structure of the Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation to create a full-fledged aerospace institute. He would like to integrate adjunct professors from the field, project-based learning and relevant curriculum that satisfies industry requirements.

“Coming to Concordia was a natural progression for me,” Fews said. “The right way to end your career is to try to give something back to youth.”