The University of Toronto Aerospace Team

SAE Aero Design East Competition - During May 2025, 11 members of our SAE team traveled to Fort Worth, Texas for the SAE Aero Design East competition. UTAT placed 1st in the design report and 5th overall out of the 14 competing teams in Advanced Class from around the world. Pivoting from a traditional fixed-wing design to a smaller fully autonomous hybrid VTOL aircraft for this year’s new set of competition rules posed a complex challenge. However, the team persevered through many crashes and ended up scoring points on the airfield, which is not accomplished by all teams. UTAT’s SAE team looks forward to applying the lessons learned and participating in the SAE Aero Design competition again next year.

Launch Canada - UTAT Rocketry competes in the Launch Canada rocket competition in Timmins, Ontario. This competition challenges students to design, build, and launch a rocket. During the 2024 Launch Canada competition, UTAT placed 2nd in the advanced category and broke the record for highest altitude reached by a SRAD engine. In addition to competing at Launch Canada, UTAT Rocketry provides students within the SKULE community with the opportunity to obtain their L1/L2 high power rocketry licenses. These licenses allow students with the proper certifications to handle high power rocket motors. In order to obtain these license, students must build, launch, and recover a solid rocket. UTAT Rocketry facilities a trip to Upstate New York to allow for students to have the opportunity to obtain these licenses.

UTAT’s Aerospace Technology and Society Industry Night - One of the largest events of the year, held in collaboration with the outreach portfolio of UTAT, brought together over 60 students from diverse academic backgrounds for an evening of conversation with more than 10 professionals from across Canada’s aerospace sector. Representatives from Aird & Berlis LLP, Nuclear Promise X, NordSpace, Ribbit, Safran Landing Systems, and the Canadian Space Mining Corporation participated in panel discussions and fireside chats exploring the intersection of aerospace technology, law, business, and society. Supported by approximately 10 organizing members, the event provided valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and professional connections that are invaluable to students aspiring to work in the aerospace industry.