'We're all ambitious' - Waterford Airport and SETU flying off together
Dr Frances Hardiman and William Bolster at SETU, November 26.
At the South East's only university, it was only fitting to talk about the South East's only airport.
On Wednesday November 25, Dr Frances Hardiman and William Bolster were at the launch of SETU's Economic and Social Impact study.
The publication of the report showcased the importance of having an institution with, as President Veronica Campbell stated, 'strong alignment to regional needs'.
News and Star spoke to Dr Hardiman and Mr Bolster about the ongoing partnership between SETU and Waterford Airport and about how their work is taking flight.
In April this year, SETU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Waterford Airport to establish a National Aerospace Academy. The Academy, which will be based in at Waterford Airport, will specialise in Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).
Head of Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment Dr Hardiman shared a few words with News and Star about the ongoing development of the Academy. She noted that SETU has a 'niche' in aerospace and aircraft systems.
Dr Hardiman said: "From a regional perspective, we can see a lot of advancement in UAV's or drones. You can look at that from a defence perspective but also from an ecological perspective. We have the researchers that specialize in the electronics, the camera capture and the processing of data.
"We're expanding it wider, not just in my own faculty but across the faculty, university, and with the developments with the airport it's gaining traction in terms of the impact on the South East."
The team have travelled to Denmark and Canada to learn more about UAV's and their uses.
Dr Hardiman said that the framework for the partnership with Waterford Airport was modelled from its counterpoint in Denmark. She commented: "The key thing with the airport, it's a regional airport, and there is a model in Denmark that we did go out to see, where the Hans Christian Andersen airport and their local university came together to develop this space."
According to Dr Hardiman, the academy offers airspace for the testing and flying of drones.
For Dr Hardiman, it is a matter of looking at the technology from an Irish viewpoint: "How can we thrive, for example, with offshore wind coming to the South East, the protection of critical infrastructure under water and over. It's something that's important, and we're looking at more in the technology space and innovation space, and ensuring that people are certified and flying them.
"So certification, training, research, that's the area, and that's where we're getting support here then from Waterford Airport."
In October 2025, it was announced that the Bolster Group had secured private funding to the tune of €33 million for the airport.
Mr Bolster said on Wednesday: "At the moment, my focus is to get this deal fully, legally tied down for Christmas and then in the New Year, our intention is to start this project. We have nearly three projects in one, the greater project everyone talks about is the runway lengthening, widening taxi with upgrade and apron.
"Then we have separate terminal works to be done. Separate to that, which is very important to the South East, we have the Sea Rescue base extension, there's a big job starting there on January 5. It's full on."
On partnering with SETU, he said: "It's important because, I'm probably tired of saying it now, Waterford Airport is not just about Waterford for me, it's about the South East. It's the SETU with Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford ties in really well with the South East message we're trying to give. I love to tie in with it."
After years of delay and disappointment, the October announcement heralds a future where people in the South East no longer need to rely solely on Dublin or Cork to fly.
Mr Bolster commented: "You know, I'm not reinventing the wheel here, it's really just about trying to replicate what happens in many other international airports around Europe and the world."
Dr Hardiman said: "The fact that the airport is open to do something innovative and different with the likes of ourselves, take a punt in the sense of what we can do, that's why it's important that we're connected in terms of what we want to do and where we want to go.
"I think we're all ambitious and I think for the region, we need to ambitious."
The pair have great things in sight for the region and the airport.
Mr Bolster added: "We want the education, the research and development, the pilot tuition, the cabin tuition, the engineering, all that. That's what really we want in Waterford. It's kind of more of a Center of Excellence for aviation, rather than just an airport that you can fly and go to Lanzarote in."
