Day One at the Global Aerospace Summit was a blast! 🚀 ✈️
Conversations took place in packed rooms, featuring important discussions about the future of aviation, the ambitious goal of decarbonization, and the FAA's commitment to safety and workforce development.
Industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators explored advances in electric airplanes, drones, and air taxis, while also addressing longterm goals.
Core themes throughout the day? Innovation and growth.
This premier event continued Wednesday, with a focus on space. We're also live on X and LinkedIn.
Aviation Safety and Innovation
The event kicked off with a keynote address by Michael G. Whitaker, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Whitaker emphasized the FAA's commitment to safety, the integration of new technologies, and strategic planning for the future.
He said collaboration among the FAA, airlines, and the broader industry will be crucial for driving growth and charting a clear path forward.
Whitaker also addressed the critical shortage of air traffic controllers, noting that the FAA is now hiring military personnel year-round instead of the previous twice-per-year schedule and will soon make public a second hiring announcement to mitigate this issue.
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, highlighted the challenges facing the aviation industry, including the impact of government regulations on customer loyalty programs and the significant FAA controller shortage, which will affect operations for years to come.
"It’s an appropriate time to be introspective and look at everything and try to look at it through a fresh critical lens," he said. "It’s been helpful having the FAA do that as well."
In a fireside chat moderated by Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Gregory Hayes, Executive Chairman of RTX, shared insights on the current state and future of the aerospace industry. Hayes emphasized that safety remains the most important priority. "Much like real estate and commercial aviation, and even the defense sector ... there are three things that are most important: safety, safety, and safety."
He highlighted the significant challenge of finding qualified personnel for certain products, a concern echoed in many other panels throughout the day.
Hayes also discussed the challenges and potential of sustainable aviation fuel, stressing that true innovation will come from redesigning aircraft to transition from carbon-based fuels to hydrogen power or other non-carbon alternatives. He discussed the importance of investing in innovation and partnership between the government and airlines to drive progress.
DAY TWO OF THE SUMMIT: A focus on innovation and growth in space
"It just goes to show that by allowing people to be entrepreneurial, to solve problems, we can do things that nobody would have imagined,” RTX Executive Chairman Gregory Hayes told Neil Bradley, Chief Policy Officer at the U.S. Chamber.
“We have placed sustainability at the very core, we are pioneering a sustainable aerospace for a safe and human world... The pioneering for the next generation must reduce fuel burn by around 25 percent,” said Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus.
Michael G. Whitaker, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), emphasized the FAA's commitment to safety, the integration of new technologies, and strategic planning for the future.
The Atrium at the Ronald Reagan Building features interactive exhibits and networking spaces.
Step outside for an up-close look at the CFM LEAP engine from GE Aerospace.
“In cybersecurity, the nation cannot succeed without the partnership—not just the support—the partnership of the private sector,” National Cyber Director Harry Coker said.
New this year: A session flight board.
Networking on the exhibit floor between sessions.
A close-up look at the CFM LEAP engine from GE Aerospace
RTX Executive Chairman Gregory Hayes in the exhibit area with the Pro Line Fusion® Avionics Demonstrator from Collins Aerospace, an RTX Business.
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, highlighted the critical challenges facing the aviation industry.
Scott J. Wright, President of Huntsman’s Advanced Materials Division and Chris Power, Founder & CEO Hadrian, discuss advanced aerospace manufacturing with Jenness Simler, Chair of National Security Practice Invariant
Sarah Mineiro, Senior Associate (Non-Resident) of the Aerospace Security Project Center for Strategic & International Studies, talks on the Innovation Stage with Derek Tournear, Director of the Space Development Agency.
A full room listens to a discussion on advanced air mobility with Tyler Painter, chief financial and operating officer at Wisk; Robert Rose, CEO at Reliable Robotics; and Blain Newton, COO at BETA Technologies, moderated by James A. Viola, president and CEO of Vertical Aviation International.
Innovation Alley features interactive exhibits including virtual reality.
"We're going back for science to study our nearest neighbor to the Earth,” Michael Sarafin, Artemis Mission Manager, said of NASA's aim to return people to the Moon.
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Regulatory Certainty, Workforce Development
The government luncheon keynote brought together Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Ranking Member of the same committee, in a discussion led by Jeffrey S. Shockey, Senior Vice President of Global Government Relations at RTX. The conversation centered on the importance of regulatory certainty in the aviation industry. Graves and Larsen agreed that clear and consistent safety standards are essential, with safety always being the top priority. They emphasized that their work on the latest legislation is crucial to ensuring that agencies like the FAA follow the intent of the law during the rulemaking process.
The panel also addressed the pressing issue of workforce development in aviation. They discussed efforts to eliminate barriers to careers in aviation, including roles such as pilots, flight attendants, air traffic controllers, and flight examiners.
"The men and women who work in your company are part of your supply chain as well," Larson said, calling attention to the critical need for aviation workers. He highlighted the Aviation Workforce Development Grant Program, which aims to support the training of pilots, maintenance technicians, and manufacturing workers. Additionally, Chairman Graves stressed the importance of broadening the skills and knowledge within the FAA to keep pace with industry changes.
Free Enterprise Is Crucial to Aerospace Industry
Cybersecurity in the Industry
National Cyber Director Harry Coker discussed the importance of cybersecurity for space systems, emphasizing the need for private-public sector collaboration. In a fireside chat with Christopher Roberti, Chamber Senior Vice President for Cyber, Space, and National Security Policy, Coker stressed the need for cybersecurity standards and tailored approaches for legacy systems.
“In cybersecurity, the nation cannot succeed without the partnership—not just the support—the partnership of the private sector,” Coker said.
On another panel, cybersecurity experts stressed integrating cybersecurity with operational integrity to improve business resilience.
“When we think about cybersecurity, we really look at it from a holistic approach,” said Deneen DeFiore, United Airlines’ Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer. “It's not just IT systems and network defense and data protection. We really look at our mission as protecting our airline operations.”
The Future of Supersonic Flight
Blake Scholl, the Chief Executive Officer of Boom Supersonic, spoke with Marion Blakey, a former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about why a good relationship with the FAA is vital to coordinating the creation of an aircraft, specifically supersonic flight.
By collaborating with the FAA during all steps of the process instead of asking for approval at the finish line, he said, problems can be addressed along the way. Scholl also emphasized optimizing speed and comfort, noting that if the customer experience is poor, speed doesn't matter. Boom Supersonic prioritizes both.
He also said the price of tickets will be comparable to business class tickets.
Need for Innovation and Growth
Sustainability in Aviation
Although aviation accounts for only 2% of all carbon emissions, the airline industry is still working on reducing its footprint. With unseen levels of collaboration between academics, airlines, private companies, and government, the industry is moving forward.
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), spoke with Robin Hayes, CEO of Airbus, about the Sustainable Aviation Caucus that he established with Sharice Davids (D-KS). Johnson advocated for the caucus by emphasizing its goal: to increase the knowledge about sustainable aviation and demonstrate the power that it can have.
When asked about how sustainable aviation fuel will affect the agriculture economy, he saidhe believes in the virtuous cycle that investing in innovative ecosystems will result in positive outcomes. He highlighted the importance of making as much new technology as possible.
On the policy side, he supports preferential tax treatment over mandates. Because it is easier to gain bi-partisan approval, he thinks Congress can come together and pass new tax codes.
A separate panel discussion featuring Jill Blickstein, head of Environment, Social, and Government for American Airlines; Michael Winter, Chief Scientist of RTX; and Lauren Riley, Chief Sustainability Officer and Managing Director of Global Environmental Affairs for United Airlines, focused on sustainable solutions. It was moderated by Tom Gentile, CEO of Hexcel.
“Reaching these goals [net-zero by 2030] is going to take an unprecedented level of collaboration between everyone in the industry,” Blickstein said.
In a conversation with Lauren Beyer, president of the Cargo Airline Association, Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), who serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said that reaching the goal of becoming net-zero by 2030 requires the industry to find strategies that involve both environmental and economic sustainability. Investing in sustainable aviation fuel is only part of the overall solution to achieve the objective the administration has set, he said.
He also spoke about the importance of maintaining a dynamic Congress that can address issues and innovative technologies that reveal itself throughout time. Although Graves is leaving by the end of the year, he believes the Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure can sustain its bipartisanship by remembering the person on the other size of the aisle is also representing thousands of people. It is all about personal relationships.
Production Stability and Decarbonization
Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, provided a comprehensive overview of Airbus's strategic goals and sustainability initiatives during a fireside chat with Phil LeBeau, Auto and Airline Industry Reporter at CNBC. Faury outlined Airbus's target to stabilize production at a rate of 75 by 2027, with plans to maintain this stability and develop a new airplane by the end of the decade. He emphasized Airbus's commitment to achieving full decarbonization by 2050, focusing on carbon reduction through the development of planes that require less fuel and the use of fuels that emit less carbon.
Faury noted that current planes are already seeing significant improvements in fuel efficiency, which is crucial for airlines seeking to remain competitive. However, he highlighted the challenge posed by the lack of a global framework, stating, "The lack of a global framework is holding us back from accelerating at a faster pace." He stressed that the aviation industry is just at the beginning of its decarbonization journey and reiterated the importance of these efforts, saying, "decarbonizing is very important."
Artemis Mission Update
NASA's Artemis program aims to return people to the Moon, inspiring the next generation in science and technology. The program has demonstrated the success of the rocket and spacecraft. Future missions include moon landings and a space station orbiting the moon.
Artemis “is helping to inspire the future. We're going back for science to study our nearest neighbor to the Earth,” said Michael Sarafin, Artemis Mission Manager.
Enabling the Future of Flight
Opportunities to Engage
Innovation Alley features interactive exhibits and immersive new technologies from our program partners.
