Newsletters

The AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala will be held on 8 May 2013 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. AIAA cordially invites you to participate in a night dedicated to honoring achievements in aerospace. Join us, along with the most influential and inspiring individuals in the industry, as they are recognized during this momentous celebration.

Awardees and Newly Elected Fellows and Honorary Fellows >
Event Info >

AIAA is pleased to announce the results of its 2013 Board of Directors election. The newly elected board members will begin their terms of office 9 May.

View Election Results >

AIAA is pleased to welcome our newest corporate members: Honda Aircraft Company, based in Greensboro, NC; Rigel Aerospace, LLC, based in Highlands Ranch, CO; Space & Ground Engineering Solutions, based in Athens, Greece; The Tauri Group, based in Alexandria, VA; and TASC, based in Chantilly, VA. For more information on AIAA Coporate Membership, contact Merrie Scott at merries@aiaa.org, or visit the AIAA Corporate Membership webpage.

AIAA congratulates the X-51A Waverider Team for its successful test of the X-51A Waverider vehicle. “Congratulations to the entire X-51 team on their tremendously successful flight,” stated Mark J. Lewis, former president of AIAA, and chairman of the AIAA Foundation. “Their near-flawless test was an amazing accomplishment, showing us that sustained air breathing hypersonic flight is not only possible, but practical. The X-51 program has advanced our knowledge and understanding of nearly every aspect of high-Mach vehicles, from fundamental understanding of materials, aerodynamics, and combustion, to the practical aspects of vehicle design, and has been a marvel of interagency-industry cooperation. Hopefully our nation will have the wisdom to build on this aviation milestone and continue the quest for operational hypersonic flight.”

(Pictured: X-51A Waverider. Image Credit: USAF)
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AIAA congratulates AIAA Corporate Member Virgin Galactic on the successful in-flight test of the engines on its SpaceShipTwo spacecraft. The successful test marks the first time the craft achieved rocket-powered, supersonic flight, a critical step toward future orbital testing.

AIAA President Mike Griffin stated: “The successful test of SpaceShipTwo’s engines, showing the craft’s ability to achieve and withstand supersonic flight, marks yet another accomplishment laying the foundation for a thriving commercial space industry in the United States.”

(Pictured: SS2 flies supersonic for the first time. Image Credit: Virgin Galactic)
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Leaders of 53 scientific, engineering, and technology associations today sent a letter to Sylvia Burwell, the director designate of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), calling for a reform of the government personnel travel rules imposed by OMB Memorandum M-12-12. Issued in the wake of the scandal that arose from a General Services Administration event held in Las Vegas, the OMB memorandum strictly limits the ability of government employees to attend professional conferences.

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AIAA mourns the death of AIAA Honorary Fellow Kenneth F. Holtby, senior vice president, corporate engineering, The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA, (retired). Holtby passed away 27 March at the age of 90.

Holtby played a primary role in designing the Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet,” a groundbreaking aircraft design that debuted in 1969. Teaming with Joseph Sutter and Robert Davis, Holtby was able to design a commercial aircraft that for nearly 40 years was unmatched in design, speed, passenger capacity, and passenger comfort.

(Pictured: AIAA Honorary Fellow Kenneth F. Holtby. Image Credit: Boeing)
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AIAA celebrated Earth Day, 22 April, and saluted the role that space-based systems play in the protection and understanding of our planet’s environment.

AIAA Executive Director Sandra H. Magnus stated: “The first time I went to space and the space shuttle bay doors opened, I saw the Earth for the first time and the immediate impression I had was that our atmosphere is fragile. It looked so thin, just a slender eggshell of air protecting us from the harsh and unforgiving environment of space. It is hard to get that impression when you are down here on the surface, but from space it is clear that Earth is our spaceship and we must take care of it. Do not take our environment, our planet, for granted. We know more about Earth than ever before, with over a hundred earth and weather observation satellites deployed by the global community, but gathering the data is only the first step – each of us must do our part to protect our fragile shield of air.”

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The AIAA Educator Academy has officially launched. To see what students and teachers are doing with AIAA curriculum modules, visit www.aiaa.org/AIAAEducatorAcademy/. Three standards-based curriculum modules, the Mars Rover, the Electric Cargo Airplane, and the Space Weather Balloon, have been created for students in grades 3-12. Each module is a self-contained unit, which leads to a local capstone event, in which students compete against other students to see which design solution will prevail. Beginning with an understanding of the Engineering Design Process, students must research, design, test and re-design their projects in an eight-to-twelve week program. Teachers in Colorado Springs, CO, Houston, TX, Valparaiso, FL, and Dayton, OH have attended workshops in the last eight months and are bringing the excitement of these modules to their classrooms. For more information about how your section can host a workshop and competition, please contact Lisa Bacon at lisab@aiaa.org.

Visit Educator Academy >

In April, high school students gathered in Houston, TX for the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Summit and in Washington, DC for the Real World Design Challenge finals. Every year, thousands of students submit their proposals to solve real-world challenges posed by the aerospace community. AIAA members participate in both competitions as judges, coaches and mentors as these students reach for the finals in April.

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The AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites Committee will dedicate Pitcairn Field, in Willow Grove, PA, as an AIAA Historic Aerospace site, during an 11:00 a.m. EDT ceremony on Saturday, 1 June. On this site, on 18 December 1928, Arthur Rawson, followed by Harold F. Pitcairn, flew a Cierva C.8W Autogiro. This was the first successful rotary wing aircraft to fly in America. Pitcairn Field – Willow Grove became the center of American Autogiro development and manufacture. Pitcairn and his associates were awarded the 1930 Collier Trophy. The development of the helicopter in America was made possible in part by the rotary-wing patents held by Pitcairn

For more information on AIAA's Historic Aerospace Sites program, contact Emily Springer at emilys@aiaa.org.

(Pictured: Pitcairn Field)

The 19th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference (34th AIAA Aeroacoustics Conference) will be held 27–28 May in Berlin, Germany. The AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference has established itself as the premier international forum for the field of aeroacoustics. It offers scientists and engineers from industry, government, and universities an exceptional opportunity to exchange knowledge and results of current studies and to discuss directions for future research.

To register, or to preview this year’s agenda, visit www.aiaa.org/aeroacoustics2013.

The 2013 Aerospace Today … and Tomorrow symposium will be held 6 June in Williamsburg, VA. Since 1989, Aerospace Today ... and Tomorrow has provided a forum for executive discussions on how the aerospace industry is progressing, from both government and corporate perspectives. This year’s theme is “Disruptive Innovation, A Value Proposition.”

To register, or to preview the 2013 agenda, visit www.aiaa.org/ATT2013.

The 2013 AIAA Fluid Dynamics and Co-located Conferences and Exhibit will be held 24–27 June in San Diego, CA. This conference provides a unique opportunity to participate in seven AIAA conferences in one location! Joint sessions between many of these events are planned to encourage synergism and collaboration among communities. The early-bird registration deadline is 28 May. This event includes the following conferences: the 43rd AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, the 44th AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Conference, the 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, the 31st AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, the 21st AIAA Computational Fluid Dynamics Conference, the 5th AIAA Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference, and the AIAA Ground Testing Conference.

To register, or to preview this year’s agenda, visit www.aiaa.org/fluids2013.

AIAA AVIATION 2013 is a premier, forward-looking forum designed to showcase recent innovations and achievements in aviation, highlight new initiatives and plans, and address key issues that need to be resolved in order to define clear roadmaps for future progress. The early-bird registration deadline is 15 July 2013. (Updated May 2013)

AVIATION 2013

• Engages those involved in the entire product life-cycle from disciplinary research to product development to system operation and maintenance.
• Eliminates barriers by addressing the global nature of aviation requirements, opportunities, regulatory limitations, research activities, development programs, and operations.
• Provides the breadth and depth of content and audience participation that is necessary for tackling the issues critical to safeguarding and shaping the future of aviation.

Major themes for AVIATION 2013 include:

• Commercial Aviation: Global Outlook, Opportunities, and Challenges
• Military Aviation: Future Challenges Facing Military Aviation
• Business Aviation, General Aviation, and Rotorcraft: Global Outlook, Opportunities, and Challenges
• The Connectivity Challenge: Protecting Critical Assets in a Networked World
• The Energy Imperative
• Developing the Market for Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Shaping the Discussion: Key Policy Issues
• Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference
• International Powered Lift Conference (IPLC)
• Complex Aerospace Systems Exchange (CASE)

Don’t miss out! To register, visit www.aiaa.org/Aviation2013.

Are you a middle or high school teacher looking for a new curriculum to tie math and science together in a unique way? Spend a day learning to teach the Electric Cargo Airplane module of the AIAA Educator Academy. Paul Wiedorn, Wilde Lake High School and Thomas Milnes, Johns Hopkins APL will share the program and tips to be successful based on the long-running program hosted by the AIAA Mid-Atlantic section. Space is limited to 40 educators so register early for this free workshop. Visit www.aiaa.org/EducatorAcademy to register.

Learn how to work with K-12 students and teachers in formal and informal interactions. Share your passion in a manner that will excite and inspire your audience. De-mystify the classroom with Tips and Tricks from the STEM K-12 Outreach Committee. Gain knowledge of AIAA materials that can help you be most effective. Space is limited, so register early at www.aiaa.org/JPC13-Engineers-as-Educators.

Teachers, high school students and parents are invited to attend a networking lunch with invited AIAA members and to participate in an interactive panel session about college and beyond; describing opportunities in the aerospace industry.

• For teachers- the opportunity to connect your classroom curriculum to real-world experiences and people
• For high school students- the opportunity to see all the potential that the aerospace industry offers you as you prepare for a career
• For parents- the opportunity to learn about the world that your student is interested in and gain insights into college preparation

If you know of students or teachers in the San Jose area, please feel free to pass this information along to them. Space is limited and registration is required- so do not delay. Visit www.aiaa.org/Illuminating-the-Potential/ to register now.

These two exciting conferences will co-locate 15–17 July 2013 in San Jose, California to provide one major exposition for the aerospace propulsion and energy conversion communities. The conference will provide a forum for the exchange of information on a larger scale than possible at separate events. The combined event will feature both programmatic and technical information as well as a beneficial networking environment.


New for 2013 – ITAR Sessions!

Technical Session Include: Advanced Propulsion and Technologies; Aerospace Power Systems; Air-Breathing Propulsion, Combined Cycle Systems, and Components; Education; Energy Conversion Device Technology; Energy Storage Technology; Rockets and Space Propulsion; System Concepts and Supporting Propulsion Technologies; Terrestrial Electricity Delivery and Grid Reliability; Terrestrial Energy-Efficient and Renewable Energy Systems; Terrestrial Fossil Energy Systems; Terrestrial Nuclear Energy Systems; Thermal Management Technology.

To register, or to preview this year’s agenda, visit www.aiaa.org/jpc2013.

• AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (SciTech 2014)
  13–17 January 2014
  National Harbor, MD (near Washington, DC)
   
• SpaceOps 2014 International Conference on Space Operations
  5–9 May 2014
  Pasadena, CA

To submit your abstract, or for the most up-to-date conference information, please visit the event web page by clicking the above link.

Space is central to our economy in two fundamental ways: 1) It provides scientific, commercial, military and government platforms that support a variety of industries; and 2) space industry companies buy the products and services of non-space companies. Developed by Exodus Consulting Group, co-sponsored by the Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (COIN), the North Carolina Aerospace Alliance, the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), Livingston Securities LLC, and Lux Research, and supported by the AIAA Commercial Space Group, the Symposium and Investment Summit on Commercial Suborbital Spaceflight and North Carolina’s Nanobiotechnology and Defense Industries will combine an educational symposium with an entrepreneur investment summit.

Set for 12 June at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, NC, AIAA members and commercial space enthusiasts are welcome to attend. In the morning, attendees will learn about the commercial suborbital spaceflight industry and the benefits it can provide to North Carolina’s nanobiotechnology and defense industries. The afternoon will feature presentations from entrepreneurs seeking investment capital and partnerships. Through these pitches, they will also demonstrate how space is a driver of creative business ideas that may be of use to your company.

The cost of the symposium is $125 through 11 June, and includes all day beverages and lunch. Cost at the door, on the day of the symposium, is $150. To view the complete agenda, or to register for this unique event, visit www.ncmbc.us/NCNewSpace.php.

As part of AIAA’s collaboration with the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics (CSAA), the Institute is pleased to be an overseas partner for the International UAV Innovation Grand Prix. This event will be held in October 2013 in Beijing. The Grand Prix features unmanned aerial vehicle design competitions and will award prizes for creativity and athletics. The application deadline is 31 May 2013. For more information and to apply to participate in the competitions, please visit www.uavgp.com.cn.

The AIAA Foundation congratulates the winning teams in the 2012–2013 Cessna Aircraft Company/Raytheon Missile Systems/ AIAA Foundation Student Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition, held 19–21 April at the Tucson International Modelplex Park Association (TIMPA) Field, Tucson, AZ.

(Pictured: First place team from the University of California Irvine. Click image for larger version)
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The AIAA Foundation has announced the winners of its AIAA Region II Student Paper Competition, held 8–9 April, on the campus of North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, NC. 150 students from 16 universities and colleges took part in the competition.

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The AIAA Foundation has announced the winners of its Region VI Student Paper Competition, held 28–30 March in Salt Lake City, UT. The event was sponsored by Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, UT. Fifty-five students from eleven colleges and universities took part in the competition.

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Frank D. Robinson, founder, Robinson Helicopter Company, Torrance, CA, has been selected to receive the 2013 Daniel Guggenheim Medal. He will receive the medal on Wednesday evening, 22 May, at the Grand Awards Banquet of the American Helicopter Society International’s 69th Annual Forum and Technology Display, 21–23 May, at the Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ.

Full Story >

• References for Associate Fellow nominations are due 15 May 2013.
   
• Nominations for Fellow or Honorary Fellow are due 15 June 2013.

More information on member honors and advancements can be found on the AIAA website.

The AIAA Member Spotlight for May 2013, shines on Sol S. Kreisler, AIAA Senior Member, and a retired former engineer for TRW and the Douglas Aircraft Company. Kreisler joined AIAA on 1 January 1940, making him one of AIAA’s longest tenured active members, currently celebrating his 73rd year of AIAA membership.Born in New York City in 1915, only 12 years after the invention of powered flight, Sol, the child of immigrant parents who had fled pogroms in their native Austria, lived a childhood straight out of the pages of Henry Roth’s “Call it Sleep,” experiencing life in the slums of New York first-hand as he struggled with neighborhood bullies, the loss of both parents, and hard work at odd jobs to help support his family. Despite the conditions of his life, Sol still found time to visit his local library and “read everything they had about airplanes!” But it was that iconic headline ‘Lucky Lindy Made It!’ celebrating Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, that was “ingrained permanently in my mind, and made me start out down the path to working in aerospace.”

Sol’s dream came to fruition when he was able to skip three grades and start college at New York University (NYU) at the age of 16, in the school’s Aeronautical Engineering department. Sol shared an experience which framed just how desperate the economic time of the 1930’s were: “Walking to NYU each morning, I would take the subway and then walk across the Harlem River Bridge where I looked out on the river and didn’t see anything moving. No smoke from the stacks, nothing. America was shut down!” Braving those cold walks every school day, “on some days you had to protect yourself from frostbite,” came to understand that America and its economy were in dire straits. He graduated from NYU in 1935, and found that the only job available to him was a work co-op arrangement in Maryland where he was “allowed to work for no pay, in fact, I had to pay them a bit toward my board and for the work experience, but hey, it was airplanes, I was working on airplanes and I got experience to put on my resume, not bad for those times.”

(Pictured: Sol S. Kreisler, AIAA Senior Member)
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What did the United States launch into low-earth orbit for the first time on 14 May 1973?

Bonus: What type of failure occurred during the mission that required a rendezvous with another spacecraft?

Answers >

Presentations and videos from California Aerospace Week, which took place 12–13 March in Sacramento, CA, and from AIAA Policy Symposium: Civilian Applications of UAVs - A California Perspective, which took place 26–28 March in Westlake Village, CA, are now available via the AIAA website.

AIAA 2013 Key Speeches >

The May 2013 issue of Aerospace America is now available online for AIAA members. Don’t miss this month's feature article, “Acquisition reform: Real solutions,” by Maj. Fred A. Kimler (USAF). Kimler discusses how repeated attempts to reform the nation’s defense acquisition process have had surprisingly little impact, citing technical complexity, ever-increasing costs, and cumbersome management structures as a few of the many challenges. He goes on to suggest that political considerations further distort a picture already clouded by unrealistic promises and expectations, and that “true reform will be achievable only if some vital – and missing – ingredients are brought into the mix.”



To access the May issue of Aerospace America visit www.aiaa.org/myaiaa, log in, and navigate to “Access Publications & Materials” to select “Aerospace America.”

Liberty Mutual is pleased to offer AAIA members special savings and personalized coverage. Enjoy exceptional service your way: at a local office, by phone, online or via mobile device. We will help ensure you, your family and your valuables are properly protected. Visit Liberty Mutual for a free quote.

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The AIAA Career Center has the most comprehensive career and recruiting tools for the aerospace industry. Set up an account today and gain access to a variety of aerospace job postings, salary information, professional career timelines and much more! Also, Career Resources for job seekers is now available via the AIAA Career Center.

View the full suite of career resources on the AIAA website!

30 April 2013
AIAA Members William M. Marshall, NASA Glenn Research Center and Mary P. Cerimele, NASA Johnson Space Center, Receive 2013 Rotary National Awards For Space Achievement
RNASA – 2013 RNASA Stellar Award Winners Announced

29 April 2013
University of Alabama AIAA Award-Winning Hovercraft to Battle Auburn University's Hovercraft in Iron Bowl of Hovercrafts
AL.com – Auburn, Alabama Engineering Students Set to Battle Saturday in First Iron Bowl of Hovercrafts

22 April 2013
AIAA Honorary Fellow Clay Jones to Step Down as Chairman and CEO of Rockwell Collins
Avionics Intelligence – Rockwell Collins' Clay Jones to Retire on 31 July; Ortberg to be Named CEO

More AIAA in the News >

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