Aerospace Industries Association

For other uses, see AIA (disambiguation).

Aerospace Industries Association of AmericaCompany type| Non-profit trade association

|

Industry| Aerospace Manufacturing
Defense
Founded| 1919
Headquarters| Arlington, Virginia, United States

Area served

| United States

Key people

| Eric Fanning (President & CEO)
Kelly Ortberg (Chairman)

Number of employees

| < 50
Website| AIA-Aerospace.org

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) -- originally the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce (1922-1945), then Aircraft Industries Association (1945-1960)[1] \-- is an American trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and business aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, space systems, aircraft engines, missiles, material, and related components, equipment, services, and information technology in the United States. It also co-sponsors, with the National Association of Rocketry, the America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), an annual competition for high school students. Member companies also give awards and scholarships to top placing teams at the TARC national finals each year, and it is funded through sponsoring companies. AIA also develops the manufacturing standards called National Aerospace Standards, which are available to aerospace manufacturers that conform to United States Military Standard's for equipment manufacturing and provide standards for other various components.

The organization's current president and CEO is Eric Fanning.[2]

## Organization[edit]

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is governed by a board of governors that meets twice a year and consists of senior representatives of member companies at the c-suite level, and an executive committee that meets more frequently. The government frequently seeks advice from AIA on issues, and AIA provides a forum for government and industry representatives to exchange views and resolve problems on non-competitive matters related to aerospace and defense.[3]

## Advocacy[edit]

Founded in 1919 with the purpose of representing the American aviation industry, AIA has since expanded the scope of that vision with technological advance in aerospace. Today, on behalf of its more than 340 member companies, AIA advocates for aerospace and defense issues ranging from technical workforce policy to space exploration. Notable recurring topics of advocacy include "... robust federal budgets for aerospace and defense, a strong U.S. industrial base, defense modernization, and an efficient acquisition system."[4]

Another AIA advocacy endeavor is National Aerospace Week, an event that celebrates aerospace in the United States. In 2010, National Aerospace Week was established under a resolution passed by both houses of the U.S. Congress, in conjunction with AIA. This event has been recognized by NASA[5] and the U.S. Department of Commerce.[6]

In late 2011, AIA launched the Second to None federal budget education campaign to inform the public and elected officials about the importance of the aerospace and defense industry and provide answers to what the predicted impacts of federal budget cuts, commonly known as sequestration, will have on the aerospace and defense industry.[7] The campaign received significant media attention in 2012 for its efforts and competed as a finalist in 2012 for PRWeek Awards 2013's Public Affairs Campaign of the Year.[8]

## The America Rocketry Challenge[edit]

The America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is an annual American model rocketry competition for students in grades seven to 12 sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.[9] Co-sponsors include NASA, United States Department of Defense, the American Association of Physics Teachers and the Civil Air Patrol.[10] The event receives local and national media coverage and draws well-known representatives of the Defense Department, NASA, the FAA, and other government agencies. Past National Fly-Offs have been attended by United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Rocket Boys author Homer Hickam, former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, and former NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden.[11]

## Membership[edit]

In October 2017, AIA's membership was composed of 346 member companies. This diverse group of businesses includes large aerospace and defense companies and small businesses alike. Membership is divided into full and associate membership.[12]

One of AIA's key membership sources is its Supplier Management Council (SMC). The SMC is a unique, non-attributional forum where senior supply chain representatives from system integrators and manufacturers tackle issues that impact the aerospace and defense supply chain. Open to both Full Members and Associate Members, the Council's mission is to integrate and focus the collective capabilities of the supply chain, at every level, to influence the strategies, policies, and regulations that enable the U.S. aerospace and defense industry to successfully compete in the global market, be profitable, and strengthen the U.S. position as the world leader.[13]

## The American aerospace industry[edit]

The US aerospace industry contributed $147 billion in export sales to the economy in 2016.[14] This industry supported almost 1.7 million jobs in 2015. Aerospace manufacturing has two major segments, namely the commercial and the defense. The commercial segment constitutes roughly 60% of the industry. The defense segment caters to US government agencies, such as the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Aerospace and Space Administration (NASA).[15]

## The Aircraft Year Book[edit]

The Aircraft Year Book (1919[16]-1957[17]), Aerospace-Facts-and-Figures (1959[18]-1996[19]), Annual-Report-Of-The-President (1952[20]-1996), and other research documents have been uploaded and are online.

## History[edit]

The Smithsonian reports that the AIA was originally incorporated as the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in 1922.[1]

Other sources, however, report that:

"The Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in 1919 and was formally organized with 100 charter members on December 31, 1921."[21][22]

At the end of World War II, in 1945, it became the Aviation Industries Association (AIA). In 1960, during the early years of the Space Race, was renamed the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)[1]

## Historical leadership[edit]

### Previous chairman[edit]

AIA Chairman are selected from the leadership of member companies, as voted by the Board of Governors. Each Chairman serves a yearlong term, begin on 1 January and ending on 31 December.

AIA Chairman Since 2005  Year  | Chairman  | Company

|
|

2019  | William Brown  | L3 Harris Technologies
2018  | Tom Kennedy | Raytheon
2017  | Dennis Muilenburg | The Boeing Company
2016  | Marillyn Hewson | Lockheed Martin
2015  | David L. Joyce  | General Electric Aviation
2014  | Michael T. Strianese | L3 Technologies
2013  | Wes Bush | Northrop Grumman Corporation
2012  | David P. Hess  | Pratt & Whitney
2011  | James F. Albaugh | The Boeing Company
2010  | Scott C. Donnelly | Textron Inc.
2009  | Bob Stevens  | Lockheed Martin Corporation
2008  | Clay Jones  | Rockwell Collins
2007  | Bill Swanson  | Raytheon Company
2006  | Ronald D. Sugar  | Northrop Grumman Corporation
2005  | Robert D. Johnson  | Honeywell Aerospace

## See also[edit]

* The America Rocketry Challenge
* National Aerospace Week

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Aerospace Industries Association of America Microfilm," NASM.1991.0084, National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, retrieved March 31, 2023
2. ^ Andrew Clevenger (June 4, 2015). "Former Exelis CEO Melcher To Lead AIA". Defense News.
3. ^ "About AIA – Aerospace Industries Association". www.aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
4. ^ "About AIA – Aerospace Industries Association". www.aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
5. ^ "NASA Celebrates National Aerospace Week | Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden". blogs.nasa.gov. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
6. ^ "Secretary of Commerce Recognizes National Aerospace Week – Aerospace Industries Association". www.aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
7. ^ Mike Kelly (December 20, 2011). "2011 "was a good year" says AIA president, but warns against defense budget cuts". AL.com.
8. ^ "American Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America". PRWeek. March 7, 2013.
9. ^ Aerospace Industries Association. "Contest Background". Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
10. ^ Barber, Trip (2006). "Team America Rocketry Challenge, 2006". Sport Rocketry. 48 (5): 5–12.
11. ^ Barber, Trip (2003). "Team America Rocketry Challenge 2003". Sport Rocketry. 45 (5): 12–23.
12. ^ "Our Members – Aerospace Industries Association". www.aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
13. ^ "Supplier Management Council – Aerospace Industries Association". www.aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
14. ^ "The Aerospace Industry in the United States". SelectUSA. International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
15. ^ Taylor, Mark. "An Insight into the US Aerospace Industry". Retrieved 12 October 2017.
16. ^ "THE-1919-AIRCRAFT-YEAR-BOOK" (PDF). aia-aerospace.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
17. ^ "THE-1957-AIRCRAFT-YEAR-BOOK" (PDF). aia-aerospace.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
18. ^ "Aerospace-Facts-and-Figures-1959" (PDF). aia-aerospace.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
19. ^ "Aerospace-Facts-and-Figures-1996-1997" (PDF). aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
20. ^ "AIA-1952-ANNUAL-REPORT-OF-THE-PRESIDENT" (PDF). aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
21. ^ "Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America". Archives. The Museum of Flight. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
22. ^ Ockerbloom, John Mark. "Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America". The Online Books Page. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aerospace Industries Association.

* AIA website

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States