2026 AIAA AVIATION Forum

The AIAA AVIATION Forum is your direct flight to the forefront of aviation business, research, development, and technology.

The aviation community is re-examining a fundamental question: How is aviation transforming in a rapidly advancing world? Next-generation technologies—from hypersonics, eVTOL, STOL, and advanced propulsion to autonomy, digital transformation, and AI—are reshaping both the pace and direction of aerospace innovation. We will explore the infrastructure challenges of an electrified and hydrogen-enabled future, the role of regulatory forces in shaping design, and the lessons learned from “big bets”—wins and misses.

We’ll also address the ethical and cognitive impacts of automation and AI, including how they can improve decision making and speed certification, as well as boost environmental, cybersecurity, and mission resilience. AIAA AVIATION Forum invites attendees to envision a future guided by velocity, the urgency of innovation, and altitude, the expanded perspective needed to chart aviation’s next great leap.