How to wing it and get a Phd

Massey graduate a real high-flier TALIA SHADWELL Last updated 11:45 13/05/2013 Some high-fliers are among Massey graduands donning caps and gowns to mark the end of their studies in a string of Palmerston North ceremonies beginning today. Massey doctoral graduand and aviation researcher Kan Tsui has winged his way home from Australia to be among the 1333 students graduating in five ceremonies during the next three days. The trained pilot is only the fourth student to complete a PhD in aviation studies from Massey University. He will earn the qualification for the system he has designed to forecast airport passenger flow - research which could help airports around the world measure themselves against competition. Dr Tsui, from Dannevirke, originally studied to be an accountant before earning his pilot's wings in 2004 from Massey. He went on to spend two years working at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), and a year in management training with airline Cathay Pacific before returning to Massey to tackle his thesis, which he completed last year. This year he took up a position at the University of South Australia's aviation and aerospace school, based in Adelaide. The model Dr Tsui has designed can be used by any airport in the world and he hopes New Zealand airports will benefit from his work. He studied HKIA, which enjoys hub status as the gateway to China. Dr Tsui found that HKIA remains one of the most efficient airports in the Asia-Pacific region, with connections to many other airports and a growing passenger throughput. But he also found the airport will face increased competition from other major airports in the region in the next five years. That includes Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, which are the major challengers to HKIA's hub status and Shanghai and Beijing in China are receiving connections traffic that previously flowed through Hong Kong. "People who want to travel to China used to go through Hong Kong but now that China has opened up there is no need to go through there so Hong Kong may have to alter a bit to survive that competition," Dr Tsui said. "The major implications of this is actually how it can be used by other airports for forecasting passenger numbers - other airports can use these methods for things like forecasting people numbers and measuring against their competition by assessing their country's economic situation and seasonal tourist patterns." Dr Tsui is among 46 Massey students who will be conferred with a doctoral degree this week. Another 121 will gain a master's degree. Vice-chancellor Steve Maharey said graduation ceremonies were the highlight of the academic year. Ad Feedback "The large number of postgraduate students reflects the high calibre of scholars the university is attracting from throughout New Zealand and around the world," Mr Maharey said. Massey will stream its graduation ceremonies online for friends and families around the world to watch. - © Fairfax NZ News http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/8665385/How-to-wing-it-and-get-a-Phd