Aviation Week reports, “Peraton has been chosen as the sole integrator in the ambitious U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) plan to upgrade the country’s air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure by 2029, the agency announced late Dec. 4.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: Aerospace
AI Shifts the Paradigm of Aerospace Structural Modeling
From the Institute
Artificial intelligence (AI) can and should be a practical partner in changing the way aerospace structural modeling is accomplished, remarked Wenbin Yu. While physics-based models remain essential, AI can accelerate computation, fill knowledge gaps, integrate workflows, and make advanced simulation tools accessible to more engineers, he added, describing this new paradigm in detail during an AIAA JournalKeynote Seminar Series webinar.
AIAA Mourns the Passing of James A. Lovell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement by AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:
“AIAA joins the aerospace community in mourning the loss of Captain James A. “Jim” Lovell, U.S. Navy (Ret.).
As a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut who broke the barriers of air and space, he contributed immense knowledge to the aerospace community. His skills as an astronaut contributed to the U.S. establishing its preeminent leadership position in space.
Through piloting the Gemini 7 mission, he and Frank Borman demonstrated the first rendezvous of two manned maneuverable spacecraft. He then commanded the Gemini 12 mission with Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, bringing the Gemini program to a successful close.
He later served as command module pilot and navigator in the Apollo 8 mission, the first human voyage to the moon. Along with his Apollo 8 crew members, Frank Borman and William A. “Bill” Anders, he became one of the first humans to leave Earth’s gravitational influence.
His contributions as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission – known as a successful failure – were remarkable. Our community understands the challenges and risks associated with space exploration. We are grateful for his iconic phrase, “Houston, we have a problem.” His legacy of level-headed problem solving and tireless teamwork will long be remembered.
AIAA was honored to recognize the entire crew of Apollo 13 – Fred W. Haise, Jim Lovell, and John L. “Jack” Swigert – with the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award. The citation reads, “For the exceptional manner in which the Apollo 13 crew conducted themselves and their spacecraft under extraordinary circumstances of extreme stress.”
The AIAA community sends our condolences to Capt. Lovell’s family and friends. The Institute is immensely grateful for his contributions to shaping the future of aerospace.”
Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Boeing Beats Allegiant’s Expectations on Max 8 Deliveries with Timely Deliveries
Flight Global reports Drew Wells, Allegiant’s chief commercial officer, “said during Allegiant Travel Company’s earnings call on 4 August that ‘Boeing has exceeded our expectations on aircraft deliveries throughout this year.’”
Full Story (Flight Global)
Lockheed Martin Details Challenges Implementing AI in the DOD Marketspace
FROM THE INSTITUTE
“AI will be the mainstream fabric of everything we do going forward,” John Clark, Lockheed Martin’s senior vice president of Technology and Strategic Innovation, said during AIAA AVIATION Forum. Speaking with Graham Warwick, executive editor of Technology for Aviation Week, Clark discussed a range of challenges confronting the defense aerospace sector in today’s AI race, while sharing Lockheed Martin’s specific path forward, embracing a modular deployment of AI focused on use cases and iterating fast from existing models.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Air Force to Purchase More KC-46s in Lieu of New Competition
Defense One reports, “After years of uncertainty about the Air Force’s tanker plans, the service has decided to buy more KC-46s instead of launching a new competition for its next tanker buy. This decision ends speculation that the service might launch a contest, likely between Boeing and Airbus, for an interim tanker buy of 75 aircraft to replace the aging KC-135 fleet. Instead, the Air Force will purchase more of the troubled but already-in-production KC-46 as a ‘bridge’ solution until it figures out its long-term tanking needs.”
Full Story (Defense One)
Space Force Releases Launch Guidelines Prioritizing Military Missions as Demand Surges
Space News reports, “In these new guidelines the Space Force seeks to balance its dual role as both a supporter of the thriving commercial space sector and steward of national security space capabilities.
Full Story (Space News – Subscription Publication)
Boeing Delivers 60 Aircraft in June
Reuters reports, “U.S. aeronautics company Boeing (BA.N), said on Tuesday that it delivered 60 airplanes in June, a 27% increase compared to a year earlier … Boeing booked 116 new orders in June, including 54 737 MAXs and 62 787s.”
Full Story (Reuters)
U.S. Air Force Set to Add Drone Launchers to KC-135 Tankers
The War Zone reports, “The U.S. Air Force has developed a means to launch small drones from its KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, and is now looking at adding that capability to the fleet. The service says the tankers could send out uncrewed aerial systems to help defend themselves from incoming threats and just provide useful additional situational awareness, as well as to potentially perform other missions in the future.”
Full Story (The War Zone)
Archer Aviation’s Midnight Nearing Commercial Rollout
Yahoo Finance reports, “Archer Aviation “is aiming to transform urban air mobility through its flagship aircraft, Midnight. Built for short, frequent flights of 20–50 miles, Midnight aircraft is nearing its commercial rollout following a handful of regulatory approvals and strategic partnerships ACHR has signed lately. In June 2025, Archer Aviation signed a strategic partnership with Jetex to develop infrastructure at the latter’s network of private terminals for facilitating Midnight jet’s upcoming commercial air taxi operations.”
Full Story (Yahoo Finance)