Professor Callum Thomas
Professor Callum Thomas
Professor of Sustainable Aviation
My profile
Biography
I have a degree in Zoology, my doctorate is in seabird reproductive biology. I carried out post doc research at Durham University into the wintering gull populations in Northern England before moving to Manchester Airport where I set up its Bird Control Unit, Environment and Community Relations Departments. I was then seconded to and later employed at MMU where, working with David Raper, we established the Centre for Aviation Transport and the Environment. My expertise is in bird hazards to aircraft, the sustainable development and environmental impacts of the air transport industry and how these can be addressed to enable the aviation industry to grow and contribute to sustainable regional development.
External examiner roles
Exernal examiner at Loughtborough University - PhD - Aircraft Noise Impacts Around Airports in Thailand
Prizes and awards
2008 Appointed Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Other distinctions
Current or previous:
Airports Council International WORLD Standing Committee on Environment
Airports Council International EUROPE Environment Committee (chair between 1995-1997)
Airports Council International Airport Carbon Accrediation Scheme Advisory Board
Member of the Airports Commission Experts Panel that is considering the provision of extra runway capacity in the SE of England
UK Government DETR Aviation and Airports Policy Advisory Group
UK Government DoT Noise and Sleep Disturbance Working Party
UK Government DTi Commercial Aviation Sustainability Strategy
Board Member Greater Manchester Waste and Chairman of GMW (Manchester Collections) Ltd
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Airport Management
Visiting and honorary positions
Adjunct Professor at the Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin
Personal website address
Teaching
Why do I teach?
I teach because I get pleasure out of sharing my knowledge with others and preparing them for employment. But also it gives me the ability to influence people and hopefully enable them to contribute to developing a more sustainable world.
How I’ll teach you
I will share my experience of working in the real world. I will tell you about the research I am involved with. I will hopefully inspire you with exciting stories that articulate the sustainable development challenge we face. I will try to be available for your when you need advice and support.
Why study…
Our love of flying provides a wonderful example of the challenge we face as a society in respect of the sustainability of the lives we live. Aviation has changed the world, permitting global mobility and travel for business, to visit friends and family and for personal fulfillment. The social and economic benefits of air transport are very significant, but so too are the adverse environmental impact, many of which are growing year on year a trend that is unsustainable. My research and teaching is focused upon quantifying those adverse impacts and finding ways to reduce then so that we can continue to travel in the future.
Postgraduate teaching
MSc Sustainable Aviation
Subject areas
Sustainable Development and Environmental Impacts of the Air Transport Industry
Supervision
Graeme Heyes - PhD - Airport Retailing in a Low Carbon Economy - Completed 2016
Jon Davies - PhD - Implications of the Internationalisation Strategies for UK Universities for their Carbon Emissions - Submitted 2016.
Andy Wolfenden - PhD The Effects of Airport Noise on Avian Song and Communities - Ongoing
Carly Fletcher - PhD Towards Zero Waste: Optimisation of waste material flows for sustainability benefits.- Ongoing
Regine Sonderland-Saga - PhD - Smart Cities: Understanding the interplay between Community Engagement, Consumption of Energy and Carbon Emissions. Ongoing
Rebecca Hudson - PhD - The development of improved metrics for use in aircraft noise communications as part of stakeholder engagement strategies around airports. Ongoing
Research outputs
Sustainable development and the air transport industry.
Airport environment capacity constraints.
Aircraft noise and airport community impacts
Airport carbon management
Aviation adapting to a changing climate
Managing bird hazards to aircraft
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Chapters in books
Paling, C., Thomas, C. (2018) 'Airport sustainability and corporate social responsibility.' The Routledge Companion to Air Transport Management. pp. 297-310.
Paling, C., Hooper, P., Thomas, C. (2014) 'The Sustainability of Air Transport.' In Goetz, A.R., Budd, L. (ed.) Geographies of Air Transport. Lund Humphries Publishers, pp. 125-125.
Thomas, C.S., Hooper, P.D. (2012) 'Sustainable Development and the Environmental Capacity of Airports.' In Ashford, N.J., Stanton, H.P.M., Moore, C.A., Coutu, P., Beasley, J. (ed.) Airport Operations 3/E. McGraw-Hill Professional, pp. 553-578.
Daley, B., Dimitriou, D., Thomas, C. (2012) 'The Environmental Sustainability of Aviation and Tourism.' In Graham, D.A., Papatheodorou, D.A., Forsyth, P.P. (ed.) Aviation and Tourism. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., pp. 239-256.
O'Connell, D.J.F., Williams, D.G. (2012) 'Air Transport in the 21st Century.' Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.,
Graham, D.A., Papatheodorou, D.A., Forsyth, P.P. (2012) 'Aviation and Tourism.' Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.,
Upham, P., Maughan, J., Raper, D., Thomas, C. (2012) 'Towards sustainable aviation.' pp. 1-250.
Thomas, C., Lever, M. (2012) 'Aircraft noise, community relations and stakeholder involvement.' Towards Sustainable Aviation. pp. 97-112.
Daley, B., Thomas, C. (2011) 'Challenges to growth: Environmental issues and the development of the air transport industry.' Air Transport in the 21st Century: Key Strategic Developments. pp. 269-294.
Thomas, C.S., Maughan, J., Hooper, P., Hume, K. (2010) 'Aircraft Noise and Community Impacts.' In Blockley, R., Shyy, W. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering, 9 Volume Set. Wiley-Blackwell,
Daley, B., Dimitriou, D., Thomas, C. (2008) 'The environmental sustainability of aviation and tourism.' Aviation and Tourism: Implications for Leisure Travel. pp. 239-253.
Hume, K., Terranova, D., Thomas, C. (2003) 'Complaints and Annoyance Caused by Aircraft Operations.' Noise Pollution and Health. NRN,
Thomas, C.S. (1996) 'Noise Related to Airport Operations - Community Impacts.' In Pedoe, N.T., Raper, D.W., Holden, J.H.W. (ed.) Environmental management at airports. London: Inst of Civil Engineers Pub, pp. 8-34.
Thomas, C.S. (1985) 'Reproductive Success in the Kittiwake Gull Rissa trydactyla.' Reproductive Success. Chicago University Press,
Coulson, J.C., Thomas, C. (1983) 'Mate Choice in the Kittiwake.' Mate Choice. Cambridge University Press,
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Reports
Hume, K., Morley, H., Thomas, C.S. Attitudes to Aircraft Annoyance Around Airports. Eurocontrol.
Thomas, C.S., Drew, A.J. (2010) Challenges of Growth Environmental Impact Study :Climate Adaptation Case Studies. Eurocontrol.
Thomas, C.S. (2010) The impact of climate change on UK Air Traffic Patterns. UK NATS.
Thomas, C.S., Hooper, P.D., Hume, K.I., Mills, J., Morley, H. (2003) A Good Practice Guide to the Assessment and Management of Aircraft Noise Disturbance Around Northern Ireland Airports. DRDNI (Belfast).
Thomas, C.S. (1985) Airports Council International Environmental handbook. ACI Europe (Brussels).
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Journal articles
Hooper, P.D., Raper, D.W., Thomas, C.S. (2010) 'Air Transport in an Environmentally Constrained World.' Journal of Airport Management, 5(1) pp. 4-6.
Maughan, J.A., Hooper, P.D., Hume, K.I., Thomas, C.S. (2008) 'Aircraft Noise - Disturbance, Perception and Policy Implications.' Public Policy and Air Transport,
Shaw, S., Thomas, C. (2006) 'Discussion note: Social and cultural dimensions of air travel demand: Hyper-mobility in the UK?.' Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(2) pp. 209-215.
Hume, K.I., Morley, H.E., Sutcliffe, M.J., Smith, G.R., Thomas, C.S. (2005) 'What do the location of noise complainants and noise-contours tell us about the pattern and level of disturbance around airports?.' International Congress on Noise Control Engineering 2005, INTERNOISE 2005, 2pp. 1281-1288.
Thomas, C.S. (2005) 'Environmental Issues and their Impact Upon the Market Value of Airports.' Airport Investor Monthly, September(4) pp. 1-4.
Upham, P., Raper, D., Thomas, C., McLellan, M., Lever, M., Lieuwen, A. (2004) 'Environmental capacity and European air transport: Stakeholder opinion and implications for modelling.' Journal of Air Transport Management, 10(3) pp. 199-205.
Upham, P., Yang, Y., Raper, D., Thomas, C., Gillingwater, D., Hinde, C. (2004) 'Mitigating Environmental Constraints at Airports through Long Term Planning: A Decision Support Approach.' Air Traffic Control Quarterly, 12(2) pp. 107-124.
Hume, K., Morley, H., Thomas, C. (2003) 'Aircraft noise complaints around some European airports.' Acta Acustica (Stuttgart), 89(SUPP.)
Upham, P., Thomas, C., Gillingwater, D., Raper, D. (2003) 'Environmental capacity and airport operations: Current issues and future prospects.' Journal of Air Transport Management, 9(3) pp. 145-151.
Hume, K., Gregg, M., Thomas, C., Terranova, D. (2003) 'Complaints caused by aircraft operations: An assessment of annoyance by noise level and time of day.' Journal of Air Transport Management, 9(3) pp. 153-160.
Hume, K., Terranova, D., Thomas, C. (2002) 'Complaints and annoyance caused by aircraft operations: Temporal patterns and individual bias.' Noise and Health, 4(15) pp. 45-55.
Maughan, J., Raper, D., Thomas, C., Gillingwater, D. (2001) 'SCAN‐UK — a network approach to environmental best practice in the aviation industry.' Eco-Management and Auditing, 8(4) pp. 240-247.
Upham, P. (2001) 'Environmental Capacity of Aviation: Theoretical Issues and Basic Research Directions.' Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 44(5) pp. 721-734.
Thomas, C., Raper, D., Upham, P., Gillingwater, D., Yang, Y., Hinde, C. (2001) 'A strategic decision support tool for indicating airport sustainability.' Environmental Modelling and Software, 16(3) pp. 297-298.
Maughan, J., Raper, D., Thomas, C., Gillingwater, D. (2001) 'SCAN-UK the UK sustainable cities and aviation network.' Air & Space Europe, 3(1-2) pp. 56-59.
Thomas, C., Raper, D. (2000) 'Role of aero engineering in the sustainable development of the aviation industry.' Aeronautical Journal, 104(1037) pp. 331-333.
Thomas, C., Raper, D. (2000) 'Sustainable mobility and the air transport industry -.' Air & Space Europe, 2(3) pp. 13-16.
Warnaby, G.C., Moss, D., Sykes, S., Thomas, C. (1998) 'Manchester Airport’s Second Runway Campaign: The Boundary Spanning Role of Public Relations in Managing Environmental-Organisational Interaction.' Journal of Communication Management, 2(4) pp. 320-334.
Coulson, J.C. (1985) 'Changes in the Biology of the Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). A 31 Year Study of a Breeding Colony.' Journal of Animal Ecology, 54pp. 9-26.
Coulson, J.C., Butterfield, J.E.L., Duncan, N., Kearsley, S.V., Monaghan, P. (1984) 'The origin and behaviour of Great Black-backed gulls in North East England.' British Birds, 77pp. 1-11.
Coulson, J.C., Butterfield, J.E.L., Ensor, K., Monaghan, P., Shedden, C., Thomas, C.S. (1984) 'Scandinavian Herring Gulls Wintering in Britain.' Ornis Scandinavica, 15pp. 79-88.
Monaghan, P., Coulson, J.C., Duncan, N., Furness, R.W., Shedden, C.B., Thomas, C. (1983) 'The geographical variation of the Herring gull Larus argentatus within Britain and in northern Europe; a biometrical approach.' Ibis, 125(3) pp. 412-417.
Coulson, J.C., Duncan, N., Monaghan, P., Shedden, C., Thomas, C.S. (1983) 'Seasonal changes in the Herring Gull in Britain: weight, moult and mortality.' Ardea -Wageningen-, 71pp. 235-244.
Coulson, J.C., Duncan, N., Monaghan, P., Thomas, C.S., Shedden, C. (1983) 'The use of head and bill lenth to sex live gulls.' Ibis, 125pp. 549-556.
Coulson, J.C., Butterfield, J., Thomas, C. (1983) 'The herring gull Larus argentatus as a likely transmitting agent of Salmonella montevideo to sheep and cattle.' Journal of Hygiene, 91(3) pp. 437-443.
Thomas, C.S. (1983) 'The relationships between breeding experience, egg volume and reproductive success of the kittiwake Rissa tridactyla.' Ibis, 125(4) pp. 567-574.
Coulson, J.C., Duncan, N., Thomas, C.S. (1982) 'Changes in tjhe Breeding Biology of the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) indiced by reduction in the size and density of the colony.' Journal of Animal Ecology, 51pp. 739-756.
Coulson, J.C., Monaghan, P., Butterfield, J., Duncan, N., Thomas, C.S., Wright, H. (1982) 'Variation in the wing-tip pattern of the herring gull in Britain.' Bird Study, 29(2) pp. 111-120.
Coulson, J.C., Duncan, N., Thomas, C.S., Monaghan, P. (1981) 'AN AGE‐RELATED DIFFERENCE IN THE BILL DEPTH OF HERRING GULLS LARUS ARGENTATUS.' Ibis, 123(4) pp. 499-502.
Coulson, J.C., Thomas, C.S. (1978) 'The significance of egg size in gulls.' Ibis, 120
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Non-peer reviewed articles / reviews
Thomas, C.S., Hooper, P.D. (2012) Sustainable Aviation - What does it mean ?.
Gardner, R., Thomas, C.S. (2009) The Future of Aviation In a Carbon Constrained World.
Thomas, C.S., Hume, K.I., Hooper, P.D. (2003) Airport Growth and Regional Development.
Thomas, C.S., Upham, P. (2000) Kyoto Agreement : What is in it for European Aviation ?.
Thomas, C.S. (1993) Airports and the Environment.
Thomas, C.S. (1992) Bird Hazard Management at Manchester Airport.
Thomas, C.S. (1988) Plane Talking.
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Conference papers
Heyes, G., Hooper, P.D., Thomas, C.S. (2014) 'Facilitating Sustainable Business Model Innovation within Firms.' In International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference. Trondheim,
Davies, J., Hooper, P.D., Paling, C., Preston, H., Thomas, C.S. (2014) 'Compensation for Aviation Carbon Emissions of Staff and International Students at Universities.' In International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference. Trondheim,
Dimitriou, D., Voskaki, A., Thomas, C.S. (2013) 'Airports environmental Impact.' In Air Transport Research Society. Bergamot,
Hume, K., Thomas, C., Hooper, P. (2007) 'Quantifying aircraft noise impact on local communities using complaints.' 6. pp. 3797-3807.
Thomas, C.S., Hume, K.I., Hooper, P.D. (2004) 'Aircraft noise, airport growth and regional development.' 1. pp. 78-88.
Hume, K.I., Morley, H., Thomas, C. (2004) 'Community complaints in response to a new airport runway.' 1. pp. 98-105.
Upham, P., Yang, Y., Gillingwater, D., Hinde, C., Raper, D., Thomas, C. (2001) 'A strategic decision support tool for indicating environmental and operational factors in Airport Development Scenarios.' In The Association For European Transport.
Hume, K.I., Terranova, D., Thomas, C.S. (2001) 'Can complaints about aircraft noise be used as an index of annoyance?.' In Inter Noise 2001. The Hague, 27/8/2001 - 30/8/2001.
Thomas, C.S., Thomlinson, S., Hume, K.I., Fullarton, D. (2000) 'Generic systems to permit public access to environmental information - a prototype for aircraft noise and flightpath data.' In Inter Noise 2000.
Coulson, J.C. (1985) 'Differences in the Breeding performance of Individual Kittiwake Gulls, Rissa tridactyla.' In 1984 Symposium of the British Ecological Society.
Butterfield, J.E.L., Thomas, C.S. (1982) 'A reappraisal of the use of refuse dumps as feeding sites for gulls (Larus).' In XVIII International Ornithological Congress. Moscow,
Coulson, J.C. (1978) 'A Study of the Factors Influyencing the Duration of the Pair-bond in the Kittiwake Gull, Rissa tridactyla.' In XVII International Ornithological Congress. Berlin,