Event Kicks Off Thursday In Virginia Beach

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is initiating an annual aviation conference to look at the future of aviation. The organization built the conference based on the premise that challenges and opportunities abound in aviation, despite the common misperception that the industry is a mature one with little need for technology investments.

In an effort to build consensus in the industry and develop momentum in public understanding and Congressional investments, AIAA has created this event to provide the aviation community a technical forum for interaction and networking and will convey the message that aviation is not a sunset industry, but still boasts exciting career potential and opportunities. The New Horizons in Aviation Forum (NHAF) is being held in conjunction with the Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations conference and the Centennial of Naval Aviation Forum. The co-location of these events along with the Centennial version of the NAS Oceana air show will assure significant military and commercial aviation constituency are present to contribute to this important forum.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (pictured)  is scheduled to open the "New Horizons in Aviation Forum" at 1230 EDT on Thursday at the Virginia Beach, Va., Convention Center. Bolden will discuss NASA's new launch system that will take astronauts far into deep space and create good-paying American jobs. The administrator also will highlight NASA's aeronautics research efforts to develop technologies to support the Next Generation Air Transportation System and make aircraft faster safer, quieter, more efficient and environmentally friendly.

During the forum, government and industry leaders will tackle aviation's challenges and opportunities, including those faced by commercial companies, air traffic managers and the military. Among those issues are the growth of unmanned systems, aviation traffic and new aircraft technologies.

The forum also will feature representatives from the multi-agency federal Joint Planning and Development Office, which oversees the development of next generation air transportation systems.

FMI: www.aiaa.org