The aeronautics industry is building on the advances made since the early 20th century taking us further, faster, safer, and cleaner. In the next 5–10 years, many new capabilities will be introduced, and the next generation will experience flight in ways we are just imagining. AIAA advances these opportunities for novel aircraft design, operations, and impact through its focus on the Aeronautics Domain.
Key Topics
Advanced Air Mobility
Advanced air mobility could grow into a $115 billion industry that gives all of us new transportation options. With clear operational guidelines, regulations, and standards for accommodating and incorporating autonomy, we see a thriving integrated urban and regional airspace in the next decade. The benefits of autonomy will enhance safety for everyone and enable capabilities we are only just imagining.
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Carbon Emissions and Sustainability
The global community is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector by 2050. The AIAA community plays an integral role in this effort that will make a substantial difference to benefit our planet.
Certification
The widespread use of UAVs and drones—both commercial and recreational—prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adapt its certification processes. Similarly, the FAA must facilitate safe use of AAM systems for passenger and cargo transport. As the FAA refreshes its certification strategy, we expect to see clear specifications, regulations, and standards emerge that will strike an appropriate balance between safety and innovation.
Space launches are close to a daily occurrence and launch sites are infringing on urban environments and large metropolitan areas. The integration of commercial air traffic, AAM, and space launch traffic must receive government attention to help drive global regulatory and certification strategies that ensure safety and continued smooth sustainable economic growth for all stakeholders.
High-Speed Flight
High-speed “transportation” – both military and civilian – is fast becoming a reality. Integrating hypersonic and supersonic flight into the national and global airspace will require attention to operational efficiency, safety through certification, and environmental and societal impacts including noise and emissions. AIAA will address questions around:
- Is sustainable civil high-speed endo-atmospheric flight achievable?
- What role does the government have in promoting hypersonic and/or supersonic flight?
- What technologies are needed to develop and mature efficient and low environmental impact hypersonic and supersonic flight?
AIAA Related Content
EVENTS
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Aerospace Perspectives Series: Integrating Commercial Innovation Into National Space Missions
23 January 2025 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Online
This webinar, set for 23 January, will explore the challenges and opportunities faced by federal space leaders as they partner with industry to integrate innovation into vital missions of national importance. -
ASCENDxTexas: Strategic Transitions – Aligning Stakeholders for Giant Leaps
26 February - 27 February 2025
Houston, Texas, USA
This year is the year of transitions: political, strategic, acquisitional, and mission-driven. ASCENDxTexas 2025 will focus on the innovation and adaptation necessary to navigate the evolving space economy–from policy discussions to commercial challenges and changing timelines, the next giant leap starts here. -
2025 IEEE Aerospace Conference
1 March - 8 March 2025
Big Sky, Montana, USA
The International Conference for Aerospace Experts, Academics, Military Personnel, and Industry Leaders. The 2025 conference will be the 46th and is set for 1–8 March 2025. -
50th Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Sciences Symposium (DCASS)
4 March 2025
Dayton, Ohio, USA
The Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Sciences Symposium (DCASS) is a unique venue for technical interchange with members of the regional aerospace community. The 2025 event is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 4 March, at the Sinclair Ponitz Conference Center. -
AIAA Talks Virginia and Maryland Aerospace Days
4 March 2025 12 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Virtual
With Virginia Aerospace Day coming up on January 29th and Maryland Aerospace Day on February 20th, join this virtual event to find out how to get involved! -
HYSKY 2025 H2Hub Summit: Meet the Winners
19 March 2025 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Central Daylight Time)
Virtual
The 2nd Annual H2Hub Summit is set to take place online 19 March 2025. Join us as we set actionable pathways for clean hydrogen to decarbonize key sectors and drive significant reductions in U.S. carbon emissions. -
2025 Region I Student Conference
20 March - 21 March 2025
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region I Student Conference will be held from 20-21 March 2025 at École de Technologie Supérieure. -
2025 Region IV Student Conference
28 March - 29 March 2025
Richardson, Texas, USA
AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region IV Student Conference will be held from 28-29 March 2025 at the University of Texas at Dallas.
COURSES
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LEARNING TRACK: Responsible AI in Aerospace (Starts 1 Apr 2025)
1 April - 22 May 2025
During Spring 2025, AIAA will offer an online series of Artificial Intelligence short courses focusing on Responsible AI.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Advanced Flight Dynamics and Control of Aircraft, Missiles, and Hypersonic Vehicles – Online Short Course (Starts 6 May 2025)
6 May - 29 May 2025
This course will briefly review the fundamentals of flight dynamic modeling and control and will present a variety of flight control design examples to enhance the learning experience.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Flight Test Techniques for UAS – Online Short Course (Starts 28 April 2025)
28 April - 21 May 2025
This new course on Flight Testing specific to UAS provides participants with overview, objectives, theory, techniques, software, and analysis methods for development, qualification, and acceptance tests of UAS.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Applications of Generative AI with Large Language Models in Aviation and Aerospace – Online Short Course (Starts 13 May 2025)
13 May - 22 May 2025
Explore AI's frontiers in aviation and aerospace! Join our new course on Large Language Model (LLM) Application Development, focused on AI applicability in the aviation and aerospace industries.
Open for registration. Register Now
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AI Design and Deployment Risks for Aerospace Applications – Online Short Course (Starts 29 April 2025)
29 April - 8 May 2025
Deepen your understanding of aerospace autonomy and AI risk management with this third AIAA course in the Responsible AI series.
Open for registration. Register Now
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AI for Aerospace Applications: Ethics, Policy, and Society – Online Short Course (Starts 15 April 2025)
15 April - 24 April 2025
Navigate the intersection of AI, ethics, policy, and societal impact with this course tailored to the unique challenges of AI and aerospace applications.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Systems Engineering and Artificial Intelligence for Aerospace Applications – Online Short Course (Starts 1 Apr 2025)
1 April - 10 April 2025
Advance your expertise in AI for aerospace with this first course in the AIAA series, focusing on building systems with Artificial Intelligence and using AI to enhance the systems engineering process.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Advanced Hydrogen Aerospace Technologies and Design
NEWS
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AIAA Announces 2025 Premier Award Winners
16 January 2025
AIAA is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the AIAA Premier Awards, recognizing the most influential and inspiring individuals in aerospace whose outstanding contributions merit the highest accolades. -
AIAA Statement on Blue Origin New Glenn Test Flight
16 January 2025
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry: “Congratulations to the Blue Origin team! Today’s New Glenn test flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station marks... -
The ‘Golden Age’ of AI and Autonomy
13 January 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – In the future artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems will transform how people and assets are tracked, whether on Earth or in space, noted speakers on an AIAA SciTech Forum plenary on AI and Autonomy last Thursday, 9 January. -
Celebrating Diverse Voices in Aerospace at AIAA SciTech Forum
10 January 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – On the final evening of the 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum, female aerospace leaders, students, and allies gathered for an engaging discussion on the unique experience of women in aerospace... -
Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Advanced Propulsion Tech Will Help Industry Achieve Net Zero Goals by 2050
10 January 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – An expert panel composed of three top aviation original equipment manufacturers (OEM), NASA, and the U.S. Department of Energy tackled how propulsion technology will drive the industry to achieve... -
The Next Generation of Spacesuits Being Designed Digitally
9 January 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – During her astronaut career flying on five Space Shuttle missions, Professor Bonnie J. Dunbar recalls the challenges of ill-fitting EVA “modular, mix-and-match” spacesuits. Ironically, it was during training... -
ORNL: Troubleshooting Turbulence – the Next ‘Killer App’ for Exascale Supercomputing?
9 January 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – The aerospace community got a rare look at the capabilities and processing might of the world’s first exascale supercomputer during a plenary session at 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum. -
USAF Science & Technology Chief: New Urgency to Embrace Digital Transformation to Strengthen the Force’s Resiliency and Ability to Compete Against Near-Peer Rivals
8 January 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – The ability to field critical capabilities in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has never been more urgent, a senior Air Force official told AIAA SciTech...