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.
Aviation Policy Platform Paper
15 April 2025
As the first country to prove that aviation is possible, the United States has led the world in advancing aeronautics technology and providing opportunities for all to take advantage of civil and commercial air transportation to improve their lives. Aviation positively and meaningfully impacts American lives every day through professional travel, package and cargo delivery, and tourism. In industries as varied as agriculture, infrastructure testing, firefighting, and medicine, aerial processes assist in maintaining the safety of operators and the communities they serve. For decades, the United States has held a competitive edge in emerging aeronautics technology. However, maintaining this leadership position in aeronautics technology development and operations on a global scale will require policy and regulatory action.
Key Topics
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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.
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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.
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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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21st Annual AIAA Southern California Aerospace Systems and Technology (ASAT) Conference
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The Space Workforce Forum
7 May 2026 8:00 am - 7 May 2026 5:00 pm
and Online
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11th International Conference on Recent Advances in Air and Space Technologies (RAST2026)
13 May 2026 12:00 am - 15 May 2026 12:00 am
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2026 American Rocketry Challenge National Finals
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2026 AIAA Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner
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ASCEND 2026
19 May 2026 12:00 am - 21 May 2026 12:00 am
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32nd AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference
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Open for registration. Register Now
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Applied Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
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Open for registration. Register Now
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Aircraft Reliability & Reliability Centered Maintenance
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Open for registration. Register Now
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Guidelines for the Development of Civil Aircraft & Systems
Access to training materials will be provided; classes will not be recorded All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course
Open for registration. Register Now
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Vibration of Periodic Structures in Aerospace Engineering
This course is applicable to the practice of vibration, flutter, and structural-acoustic analysis of stiffened structures, used in aerospace engineering and design. All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Hypersonic Propulsion Concepts: Design, Control, Operation, and Testing
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Flight Test Techniques for UAS – Online Short Course (Starts 4 May 2026)
4 May 2026 - 1 June 2026
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Open for registration. Register Now
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Fundamentals of High Speed Air-Breathing and Space Propulsion
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AIAA Announces 2026 Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition Winners
20 April 2026
AIAA announced the winners of the 30th Annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition.
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AIAA Announces 2026 Award Recipients
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ASCEND 2026 Assembles Space Industry’s Most Influential Voices in Washington, D.C.
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2026 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics on Learning and Controlling Autonomous Space Systems to be Presented by Maruthi Akella from University of Texas at Austin
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2026 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce Presented by Blue Origin’s Tory Bruno During ASCEND 2026
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AIAA Announces 2026 Priority Issues to Advance U.S. Aerospace Leadership
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AIAA Bids to Bring the World’s Premier Space Event to the United States in 2029
25 February 2026
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AIAA Identifies Top Technologies Transforming Aerospace
18 February 2026
Ten technologies will fundamentally reshape aerospace operations, manufacturing, and services over the next two decades…
