Research & Innovation • Aviation • Aerospace

Dr Asteris Apostolidis

Dr Asteris Apostolidis
Professional highlights of Dr Asteris Apostolidis

My mission

I’m a technologist working across physical and digital engineering. My work sits at the intersection of aviation, technology, strategy, and sustainability. I bring technical, managerial, and research expertise from airlines, academia, and aerospace manufacturers, and I’ve led projects spanning aircraft system design, simulation, operations, and maintenance —as well as modelling of aviation processes. I serve on EASA’s Rulemaking Committee on Trustworthy AI (RMT.0742), I lead the Diagnostics & Prognostics Working Group of the Independent Data Consortium for Aviation (IDCA), and I am an expert for the European Commission, alongside roles on advisory boards, editorial boards, and international working groups.

Selected organisations and partners

Selected Projects

Aircraft fleet and network planning concept
KLM Fleet Lab

Integrated Fleet Decision Support

Simulation-led decision support for future fleet choices across maintenance, operations, and network planning.

Aircraft turnaround and airport ground operations
Epic Games | KLM BlueLabs

Digital Twin for Airline Operations

Simulation and operational intelligence for more predictable aircraft turnaround performance.

Abstract trustworthy artificial intelligence and aviation certification concept
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

Trustworthy AI for Aviation

Contributing to the regulatory and technical foundations for safe, explainable, and certifiable AI in aviation.

Aircraft maintenance and predictive maintenance technology
Bright Sky Consortium | Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Predictive Maintenance & Prognostics

Using data-driven diagnostics and prognostics to reduce disruption, waste, and unnecessary maintenance.

Aero engine turbine and aerothermal modelling concept
Airbus | Safran Aircraft Engines

Aerothermal Modelling of the CFM LEAP-1A Engine

Physics-based modelling of turbine cooling and heat transfer for next-generation aircraft propulsion.

News

Current Professional Appointments

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Senior Technical Innovation Lead

(05/2023–present, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

  • I lead the Fleet and Emerging Technologies Labs within KLM, exploring the applicability of future technologies.
  • I focus on Simulation & Digital Twins, Optimisation, Data Exchange, Trustworthy AI, and Autonomy for Operations.

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Senior Research Associate; ex-Associate Professor & Lab Lead

(06/2021–present, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

  • I lead industrial research with partners like Air France-KLM, the Royal Dutch Airforce, and MTU Aero Engines, among others.
  • I co-developed the €24M Bright Sky Consortium (RVO R&D Mobility Fund) and contributed to the faculty's research strategy.

EASA — European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Independent Expert in New & Emerging Technologies; Rulemaking Task Member

(09/2024–present, Cologne, Germany)

  • I provide technical expertise in several areas around new and emerging technologies in aviation.
  • I participate in the Rulemaking Task RMT.0742, overseeing the regulatory framework for AI in aviation.

Education

  • PhD, Turbine Cooling and Heat Transfer Modelling for Gas Turbine Performance Simulation — Cranfield University (2014).
  • MSc (Distinction), Thermal Power — Aerospace Propulsion — Cranfield University (2010).
  • Dipl. Eng., Mechanical Engineering (Energy & Aeronautics) — Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2009).
  • PhD Thesis Repository →

Aviation, research, and technology visual bridge
Body of work Research, consortia, publications, invited talks, and distinctions.

Industrial & Academic Consortia

2021–2025 · RVO

Bright Sky

Innovations in predictive maintenance, MRO, security, and training.

2019–2022 · H2020

HECARRUS

Hybrid-electric small commuter aircraft conceptual design.

2018–2022 · H2020

ReMAP

Real-time condition-based maintenance for adaptive aircraft maintenance planning.

2017–2022 · NWO

CIMPLO

Cross-industry predictive maintenance and dynamic scheduling platform.

2016–2019 · NWO

Data Mining in MRO

Data analytics and predictive maintenance in aviation MRO operations.

Selected Publications

Peer-reviewed papers, conference proceedings and book chapters on predictive maintenance, diagnostics & prognostics, trustworthy AI, and gas turbine modelling.

2024 · Aerospace

Electric Aircraft Operations: An Interisland Mobility Case Study

2022 · Aerospace

AI-Based EGT Prediction for Trustworthy Safety-Critical Applications

2021 · IEEE

Automated machine learning for remaining life estimation of aircraft engines

2020 · PHM Society

Aviation Data Analytics in MRO Operations: Prospects and Pitfalls

2019 · GECCO

A tabu search-based memetic algorithm for multi-objective job shop scheduling

Selected Invited Talks

Delivered more than forty invited talks, keynotes, lectures, and expert panel contributions across airline strategy, the future of aerospace, emerging technologies, and trustworthy AI.

2026 · Expert panel

The continuum of compute

Annual Quantum Global, The Economist · London, UK

2025 · Invited talk

Innovation Beyond AI: What is Next

EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub · Paris, France

2025 · Keynote

Revolutionising aerospace with trustworthy AI

Aviation Technology Forum · Guangzhou, China

2024 · Invited talk

Towards Net-Zero Aviation with AI

Georgia Institute of Technology · Atlanta, USA

2022 · Invited lecture

AI for Aviation MRO

Responsible AI Series, The Alan Turing Institute · UK

Selected Awards & Distinctions

Scholarships

Scholarships and sponsorships

Rolls-Royce plc, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Cranfield University.

2022 · Supervision

Best Thesis award

NLF National Aerospace Funds.

2019 · Reviewing

Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing

Elsevier.

Selected Articles

Videos

About me

I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, and over the last seventeen years I’ve lived in the UK, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Beyond aviation, I’m a lifelong photographer -darkroom to digital- drawn to landscapes, street scenes, aircraft, and the places I travel. Music is a constant companion; I’ve been collecting records and other physical formats for more than three decades. I now live in Amsterdam, where you’ll often find me building LEGO sets with my three children.

Contact & Collaboration

I am open to selected professional conversations and collaborations around aviation, aerospace, technology, applied research, technical publishing, lecturing, and mentoring.