Eagle Earns Prestigious Fellowship to Pursue Passion for Aviation Safety Research

Born in Nicaragua, Embry-Riddle student Jonathan Hanyecz has been awarded the prestigious ISASI-Robertson Fellowship, which he hopes will help him pursue his goal of “making the aviation industry safer.”

The fellowship was established between the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) and the late Embry-Riddle Trustee Emeritus S. Harry Robertson. It supports students pursuing a master’s in Safety Science whose research will further crashworthiness, an aircraft’s ability to protect its occupants, and other safety advances in aviation. The fellowship includes full tuition, a monthly stipend and access to research-related travel funding.

“It is an incredible honor,” Hanyecz said. “The knowledge and hands-on research opportunities provided by this fellowship will equip me with the skills and expertise needed to become a well-rounded and impactful aviation safety professional.”

Hanyecz — who graduates in December with a bachelor’s in Aeronautics and minors in Aviation Safety, Aviation Business Administration and Aeronautical Studies — will begin as a master’s student in the Department of Safety Sciences on the Prescott Campus at the start of the spring 2025 semester.

“Embry-Riddle has provided me with the resources, knowledge and support needed to pursue my goals with confidence,” he said.

Brian Roggow, associate dean of the College of Aviation and chair of the Safety Science Department, said Hanyecz “embodies the spirit of the ISASI-Robertson Fellowship.”

Robertson was the inventor of the Robertson Crashworthy Fuel System and a founding member of the society, which aims to promote air safety through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information about aircraft accident investigations.

Hanyecz’s “dedication and forward-thinking approaches to aviation safety effectively align with the safety science program’s objectives,” Roggow said.

In addition to research, Hanyecz will also contribute to preserving aviation safety history by working with the university’s Aviation Safety and Security Archives, which contains the life’s work of S. Harry Robertson.

“Through the ISASI-Robertson Fellowship,” Hanyecz said, “I hope to contribute meaningfully to making the aviation industry safer, understanding that even the smallest steps toward safety enhancement are invaluable.”

Posted In: Aviation | Research