Abolfazl Simorgh, alumnus of the Aerospace Engineering PhD programme at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and currently a professor in its Department of Aerospace Engineering, has been awarded first prize in the Applied Technology category of the VI Scientific Research and Technology Margarita Salas Awards.
Organised by the Madrid City Council, these prestigious awards recognise outstanding doctoral theses defended at universities across the Community of Madrid, highlighting scientific excellence, technological innovation, and societal impact.
Researching the Climate Impact of Aviation
Abolfazl’s doctoral thesis, supervised by Professor Manuel Soler Arnedo and titled “Robust Aircraft Trajectory Optimization and Climate Change”, develops innovative methodologies for planning aircraft trajectories that minimise aviation’s impact on the climate.
His research, conducted within the Aircraft Operations Lab at UC3M, addresses the challenge of identifying climate-friendly flight routes while accounting for weather forecast uncertainties and the different factors contributing to global warming. The results demonstrate that significant reductions in the climate impact of flights can be achieved through selective operational adjustments, at relatively low costs for airlines.
This work provides practical tools and methodologies to support more sustainable flight planning and aircraft operations, contributing to the ongoing efforts to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint.
Recognition of Research Excellence
The VI edition of the Margarita Salas Awards received a record 526 applications and recognised 13 researchers from five public universities in the Madrid region, two of them from UC3M, distributing a total of €129,000 in prizes.
This recognition highlights the contribution of the Aircraft Operations Lab and UC3M to addressing one of the major challenges facing the aviation sector: reducing the climate impact of air transport through innovative operational solutions.
The Aircraft Operations Lab congratulates Abolfazl Simorgh on this outstanding achievement and celebrates his contribution towards a more climate-conscious and sustainable aviation industry.
More information: VI Margarita Salas Awards 2026 – Madrid City Council.