The Faculty of Civil Aviation and Aeronautics at Kunming University of Science and Technology was established in March 2019 through the merger of the former Faculty of Aeronautics, founded in June 2016, and the Faculty of Civil Aviation, founded in March 2017. The Faculty currently offers four undergraduate programs: Flight Technology, Transportation with a specialization in Flight Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Aircraft Maintenance, and Aircraft Control and Information Engineering. It also offers professional master’s programs in Aviation Transportation and Aviation Engineering. In 2026, the Faculty will further expand its academic portfolio with new doctoral and master’s programs in Low-Altitude Technology and Engineering, as well as a master’s program in Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology.

Guided by the principle of “demand first, quality first,” the Faculty is committed to meeting the needs of China and Yunnan Province for highly qualified professionals in the civil aviation sector. With the goal of building a high-quality training base for civil aviation talent and a high-level academic platform for plateau aviation studies, the Faculty cultivates undergraduate professionals in flight technology, aircraft maintenance, operations support, civil aviation services, and related fields. It actively supports Yunnan’s development as a strong civil aviation province and contributes to China’s broader development strategies, including the construction of Yunnan as a regional hub facing South and Southeast Asia.

Kunming University of Science and Technology provides strong academic and research support for the Faculty. The University has doctoral programs in disciplines closely related to civil aviation, including Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Management Science and Engineering. It also offers master’s programs in Transportation Engineering, Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, Electrical Engineering, Control Science and Engineering, Information and Communication Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Safety Science and Engineering, and other related fields. In addition, the University has a comprehensive foundation in science and engineering education, supported by national, provincial, and university-level key laboratories and experimental teaching demonstration centers in areas such as physics, electrical and electronic engineering, engineering training, transportation engineering, engineering mechanics, mechanical engineering, information and communication engineering, and materials science and engineering. These resources provide a solid foundation for cultivating high-quality professionals for the civil aviation industry.

In recent years, the Faculty has strengthened its role in low-altitude technology, UAV innovation, and aviation-related talent cultivation. In 2025, the Yunnan Low-Altitude Economy and UAV Technology Innovation Center was inaugurated, with Kunming University of Science and Technology as the leading institution. The center focuses on key areas including plateau long-endurance UAV design, lightweight materials and advanced manufacturing, power systems, and low-altitude operations support, providing technical support for the high-quality development of Yunnan’s low-altitude economy.

The Faculty has also actively participated in national-level initiatives in low-altitude technology and engineering education. In January 2026, Kunming University of Science and Technology hosted a working meeting for the “101 Plan” in Low-Altitude Technology and Engineering, guided by the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and organized by Beihang University and Higher Education Press. The meeting brought together more than 100 experts from leading aviation and engineering universities to advance core curriculum development and talent cultivation in the field of low-altitude economy.

The Faculty benefits from extensive educational resources and a strong platform for industry-university cooperation. The University has reached agreements or cooperation intentions with institutions such as the Civil Aviation University of China, Beihang University, Central South University, and Northeastern University in areas including faculty training, teacher development, student exchange, and joint talent cultivation. It has also signed a “2+2” dual-degree undergraduate cooperation agreement in aviation-related programs with the Florida Institute of Technology in the United States. In addition, the University has developed or discussed cooperative education partnerships with a wide range of aviation enterprises and training organizations, including China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Kunming Airlines, Ruili Airlines, Hubei Sky-Blue International Aviation Academy, Qingdao Jiutian International Flight Academy, Eastern Fashion, Bojun Group, Xiang’ao Aviation Technology, Jiangxi Kejun Industrial, Kunming Fei’an, Ruibin Aviation Technology, and Xinplex Aviation Equipment Technology.

Through its disciplinary strengths, industry partnerships, and growing engagement in low-altitude technology and plateau aviation research, the Faculty of Civil Aviation and Aeronautics is committed to developing application-oriented, high-quality aviation professionals and supporting the development of civil aviation, low-altitude economy, and aviation technology in Yunnan and beyond.