Featured Biographies

Katrina Cecco

University of Toronto

Katrina Cecco is a Ph.D. student at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, under the guidance of Dr. Peter Grant of the Vehicle Simulation Laboratory and Dr. Hugh Liu of the Flight Systems and Control Laboratory. Her research focus is flight simulator development for handling qualities assessment of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Her goal is to use simulation and subscale flight testing to support the rollout of advanced air mobility (AAM) systems by demonstrating safety and operational compliance while reducing development costs. Katrina has been interested in vertical flight technology since 2017, when she first participated in design-build-fly Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) projects with the University of Toronto Aerospace Team. Presently, Katrina holds a volunteer role as the Chief Judge of the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada’s Student UAS Competition. She facilitates an annual design and flight operations challenge for Canada’s next generation of UAS engineers.