Akku Kumar
Aviation Is My Passion
Building the future of flight — from air transportation to general aviation to drones — and much more!
Areas of Interest
01
Air Transportation Innovation
Building technology to optimize operations, gather more data, and improve the customer experience.
02
Vertical Flight Research
Designing the next generation of VTOL-capable autonomous aircraft to reach new places.
03
Broader Impacts of Technology
Helping the community by setting policy, teaching the next generation, and conserving the environment.
Air Transportation
As an ardent traveler who’s been to 32 countries, 7 continents, 50 states, and 433 national parks, I have had the pleasure of being on 150+ flights and have spent hours in airports. After personally feeling the hassles of air transportation — delays, long lines, missed connections — I wanted to help improve the system. But as an aerospace engineering and computer science student, I didn’t just dream.
I am doing it right now.
I started my aviation technology company, Arrow Analytics, in college and have since worked with Southwest Airlines, multiple airports, and the FAA. Combining programming and aerospace knowledge with a keen business sense, I am working to become a major player in the aviation industry.
Vertical Flight
When I first thought of being an aerospace engineer, I thought only of airplanes and spacecraft. That is, of course, until I built and automated my first drone. Seeing the fruits of my labor in flight made him realize a lot of fun is to be had well within the atmosphere.
That’s when my passion took flight.
Now, I have been able to help create several drones as an NSF Graduate Fellow and MS student at Texas A&M University, as well as intern at Bell Helicopter. I also started the TAMU Vertical Flight Society chapter and led my group to victory in an international competition during my first year. I also helped found, and is currently the treasurer of, the National VFS Student Council, where am working to establish a reliable source of funding for student programs nationwide.
4
Projects In Progress
4
Aircraft Built
150+
Flights Taken
$75K+
Funds Raised