David Barry

Dr David Barry is a Senior Lecturer in Aviation Safety Management at Cranfield University, based in the Centre for Safety and Accident Investigation within the Transport Systems school. He leads the Aviation Safety Management, Flight Data Monitoring, and Crisis Management modules and serves as Course Director for the online MSc and Mastership programme in Aviation Safety Management, Risk and Regulation.

Education:

• MSc in Air Safety Management, City University, London (2008, with distinction)
• PhD in Operational Risk in Aviation, Cranfield University (2020)

David's research focuses on leveraging data and advanced analytical techniques such as Bayesian networks and natural language processing (NLP) to enhance aviation safety. His work emphasizes quantitative risk assessment, flight data monitoring, and the extraction of safety knowledge from incident reports. He is particularly interested in applying machine learning and AI to transform raw operational data into actionable safety insights.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend toward integrating AI and NLP into safety management systems, especially for hazard identification and risk modelling in aviation. These works span journals such as Safety Science, Transportation Research Part C, and Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part O.

Professional Affiliations and Recognition:

• Member, International Society of Air Safety Investigators
• Member, Royal Aeronautical Society
• Holds a Private Pilot’s Licence

David has advised and collaborated with major aviation clients including EASA, Malaysia Airlines, Air Astana, and Highlands and Islands Airports. His work bridges academic research and industry application, contributing to real-world safety improvements in air transport. He is actively involved in developing innovative training and risk assessment frameworks.

He is associated with the Centre for Safety and Accident Investigation, a leading hub for aviation safety research and education at Cranfield, which supports both postgraduate teaching and professional development in accident investigation and safety management.