Aerospace Industries Association

For other uses, see AIA (disambiguation).

Aerospace Industries Association of America

Type	Non-Profit trade Association
Industry	Aerospace Defense
Founded	1919
Headquarters	Arlington, VA, Virginia, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Marion Blakey (President & CEO) Robert J. Stevens(Chairman),
Employees	55 (2011)
Website	AIA-Aerospace.org

First flight of the Wright Flyer I, December 17, 1903, Orville piloting, Wilbur running at wingtip. Photo by John T. Daniels of the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station, using Orville's tripod-mounted camera

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), founded in 1919 only a few years after the birth of flight, is the premier trade association representing the nation's major aerospace and defense manufacturers. The Aerospace Industries Association represents the nation's leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, space systems, aircraft engines, missiles, material, and related components, equipment, services, and information technology.

Based in Arlington, VA, AIA is led by a Board of Governors that meets twice a year and consists of senior representatives (generally chief executive officers) of member companies, and an Executive Committee that meets more frequently. A hallmark of AIA is that it receives its policy guidance from the direct involvement of CEO-level officers of the country's major aerospace companies. 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 the aerospace industry.

Today, almost 150 major aerospace and defense companies are members of the association, embodying every high-technology manufacturing segment of the U.S. aerospace and defense industry from commercial aviation and avionics, to manned and unmanned defense systems, to space technologies and satellite communications.

In addition, the association has almost 200 associate member companies, all of which are leading aerospace and defense suppliers.

Marion C. Blakey is the association's chief executive officer and president. AIA member company representatives sit on various councils and committees in these areas and, supported by AIA staff, formulate industry positions on specific issues for approval by the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors.

The association concentrates on issues covering civil aviation, space and national security. In addition the association has offices for Communications, Legislative Affairs, and Membership Services, the Supplier Management Council, the Team America Rocketry Challenge and the Aerospace Research Center.

AIA History

Manufacturer's Aircraft Association

See also: The Wright brothers patent war

After entering World War I, the U.S. immediately realized the important role of aircraft in warfare. In 1917, the two major patent holders in aviation, the Wright Company and the Curtiss Company, had effectively blocked the building of new airplanes, which were desperately needed as the United States was entering World War I. The U.S. government, as a result of a recommendation of a committee formed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, pressured the industry to form a cross-licensing organization, the Manufacturer's Aircraft Association (MAA), formed in 1917. The association was initially designed as a patent pool which drew up a cross-licensing agreement to allow manufacturers to have unrestrained use of airplane patents in order to produce airplanes for the government's war effort^[1][2][3].

The association was initially designed as a patent pool which drew up a cross-licensing agreement to allow manufacturers to have unrestrained use of airplane patents in order to produce airplanes for the government's war effort. Early members included such aviation pioneers as Orville Wright and Glen H. Curtiss, as well as representatives of major aircraft manufacturing units in the United States.

Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce

In 1919, the Manufacturer's Aircraft Association was dissolved, and the newly formed Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce (ACCA) stepped in to promote civil aviation, "to foster, advance, promulgate and promote: aeronautics, and "generally, to do every act and thing which may be necessary and proper for the advancement" of American aviation.

During World War II, the ACCA carried on limited functions for the industry while manufacturers focused on the war effort through East and West Coast Aircraft War Production Councils. These councils coordinated industry support with the War Planning Board and the military services. Following the war, ACCA was reorganized to concentrate on the industry's trade and commercial interests, and it became, for the first time, a trade association. Its name was appropriately changed to, "Aircraft Industries Association of America, Inc." (AIA).

Later history

In 1959, the Aircraft Industries Association officially changed its name to "Aerospace Industries Association, Inc." to recognize an evolving industry that was now embracing the new frontier of space.

In November 2007, Marion C. Blakey became the eighth full-time executive of AIA when she was named as President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Blakey succeeds John W. Douglass, who served the association from 1998-2007. Formerly the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Ms. Blakey represents the interests of AIA and its member companies through speaking engagements worldwide, congressional testimony and regular interface with the media.

Organization

Regular Members

AAR Manufacturing, Inc. Accenture Aerojet Acutec Precision Machining Aero-Mark, LLC Aerojet AGC Aerospace & Defense AirDat LLC Alcoa Defense Allfast Fastening Systems, Inc. Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK) Allied Barton Security Services American Pacific Corporation AMSAFE Aviation AMT II Corporation Analytical Graphics, Inc. ANSYS, Inc. ArmorWorks Enterprises LLC Aurora Flight Sciences AUSCO, Inc. B&E Group, LLC B/E Aerospace, Inc. BAE Systems Inc. Barnes Aerospace Belcan Advanced Engineering and Technologies Best Foam Fabricators, Inc. Boeing Bombardier Broad Reach Engineering Company CAE USA Inc. Celestica Corporation Certon Software, Inc. Chromalloy CIRCOR International Inc. Click Bond, Inc. Colt Defense, LLC Cobham Computer Sciences Corporation Comtech AeroAstro, Inc. Crown, Inc. Cubic Defense Applications, Inc. Curtiss-Wright Corporation Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. Metal Improvement Company Deloitte Consulting LLP Ducommun Incorporated DuPont Company DynCorp International LLC Eaton Aerospace Operations Elbit Systems of America Embraer Aircraft Holding Inc. Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated ESI North America ESIS, Inc. Esterline Technologies Exostar LLC Flextronics International USA Flight Safety International Inc. FTG Circuits, Inc. Galactic Ventures LLC General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. General Dynamics Corporation General Electric Aviation Gentex Goodrich Corporation Groen Brothers Aviation Inc. Guardsmark, LLC. Harris Corporation HEICO Corporation Hexcel Corporation HITCO Carbon Composites Hi-Shear Technology Corporation Honeywell Aerospace HP Enterprise Services, Aerospace IBM Corporation IEC Electronics Corp Integral Systems, Inc. ITT Corporation Jabil Defense & Aerospace Services LLC Kaman Aerospace Corporation

KPMG LLP L-3 Communications Corporation LAI International, Inc. LMI Aerospace Inc. Lockheed Martin Corporation Lord Corporation Marotta Controls, Inc. Meggitt Vibro-Meter Inc. Metron Aviation Inc. Micro-Coax, Inc. Micro-Tronics MicroSat Systems, Inc. MOOG Inc. Natel Engineering Co. Inc. National Technical Systems NobleTek NORDAM Northrop Grumman Corporation NYLOK Corporation Omega Air, Inc. Oracle USA, Inc. OSI Systems, Inc. Pacifica Engineering, Inc. Pall Aeropower Corporation Paragon Space Development Corporation PARTsolutions, LLC Parker Aerospace Pinkerton Government Services, Inc. Plexus Corporation PPG Aerospace-Sierracin Corporation PRTM,LLC PTC PWC Aerospace & Defense Advisory Services Qwaltec Raytheon Company Realization Technologies Inc. Remmele Engineering, Inc. Rhinestahl Corporation Rockwell Collins Rolls-Royce North America Inc. RTI International Metals, Inc. Sanmina-SCI Corporation SAP Public Services Satair SCB Training Center, Inc. Science Applications International Corporation Siemens PLM Software Sierra Nevada Corporation, Space Systems SIFCO Industries, Inc. Sila Solutions Group SITA SM&A Southern California Braiding Company, Inc. Space Exploration Technologies Corporation Sparton Corporation Spirit AeroSystems SRA International Tech Manufacturing LLC Textron Inc. The SI Organization, Inc. Therm, Inc. Timken Aerospace Transmissions, LLC Triumph Group, Inc. Aerospace Systems Group Aftermarket Services Group UFC Aerospace United Technologies Corporation Pratt & Whitney Sikorsky Hamilton Sundstrand Valent Aerostructures Vermont Composites, Inc. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Wesco Aircraft Hardware Corp. White Electronic Designs Corporation WIPRO Technologies Woodward Governor Company Xerox Corporation

International Space Station Cessna 560XL Citation Excel of the Swiss Air Force C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Space Shuttle Atlantis during launch phase Lockheed Martin/BAE/Northrop Grumman X-35 (F-35 Prototype) Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit strategic bomber

Associate members

A.T. Kearney Public Sector & Defense Services LLC ADI American Distributors, Inc. Aerospace Supply Chain Solutions, LLC Air Industries Machining Corp. Airborn Operating L.P. Airfasco Industries, Inc. Albany Engineered Composites Alcoa Fastening Systems Allegiant Global Services, LLC Allen Aircraft Products, Inc. American Brazing AMETEK Aerospace & Defense Arkwin Industries, Inc. Arrow/Zeus Electronics, div. of Arrow Electronics Astro-Med, Inc. ASTRONIC Athena Technologies, Inc. Banneker Industries, Inc. BearingPoint, Inc. Blenheim Capital Services Brogdon Tool & Die, Inc. Brush Wellman Inc. BTC Electronic Components Burton Industries Aerospace Heat Treating Inc. Capo Industries Inc. Carlton Forge Works CDG[disambiguation needed ] Celltron Inc. Cherokee Nation Distributors CMC Electronics Co-Operative Industries Defense, LLC Coalition Solutions Integrated, Inc. Consolidated Precision Products CPI Aero, Inc. Crestwood Technology Group Cytec Engineered Materials Dassault Systems of America Data Conversion Laboratory, Inc. Dayton T. Brown Inc. Dexter Magnetic Technologies, Inc. DynaBil Industries, Inc. East West Associates Electronic/Fasteners, Inc. Ellison Surface Technologies Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emhart Teknologies Black & Decker Company ENSCO, Inc. Exotic Metals Forming Company LLC Ferguson Perforating Frontier Electronic Systems Corporation Furniture Resources G.S. Precision, Inc. H&S Swansons' Tool Company Haas TCM/Avchem Harvard Custom Manufacturing HCL Technologies HDL Research Lab, Inc. Heartland Precision Fasteners Aerospace Plating Company HGS Aerospace J.F. Hubert Enterprises Hi-Tech Aero Spares Division of Argo Turboserve Corp. Hi-Temp Insulation Inc. Hobart Machined Products Inc. Hughes Bros. Aircrafters, Inc. Industrial Metals Intl. Ltd. Infotech Enterprises America Inc. Ingenium Inmedius International Technegroup Inc. (TranscenData Division) Intrepid Learning Solutions ION Corporation ITW CIP Jabil Defense & Aerospace JRH Electronics, LLC. Kennebec Technologies, Inc. KPMG LLP Kubotek USA Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc. LMI[disambiguation needed ] Loos & Co., Inc. M/A-COM, Inc. McCann Aerospace Machining Corporation Meyer Tool Inc. Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association Microsemi Corporation Mid-State Aerospace Inc. Mil Spec Sales Co. Millitech, Inc.

Modern Industries Morris Machine Company, Inc. MPC Products Corporation Nasmyth Precision Products Inc. Navigant Consulting, Inc. New Breed Corporation NMC Group, Inc. Nor-Ral Plastics Inc. Norfil Manufacturing, Inc. O'Neil & Associates, Inc. Ohio Aerospace Institute Optical Display Engineering Orion Industries P3 - North America, Inc. Parkway Products, Inc. PCA Aerostructures PCC Airfoils, LLC Performance Software Corporation Perillo Industries, Inc. PGM of New England, LLC Plexus Corporation Plymouth Engineered Shapes Powerway Inc. Precision Gear Precision Machine & Manufacturing Co. Precision Tube Bending Premier Precision Group PRTM Management Consultants, LLC PTC[disambiguation needed ] QMC LLC QuEST (Quality Engineering & Software Technologies) PVT Ltd. Radant Technologies, Inc. RAF Tabtronics LLC REMEC Defense & Space, Inc. Renaissance Services Rubbercraft Sample Machining, Inc. dba Bitec Sanmina - SCI Corporation Schmiede Corporation Sea Air Space Machining & Molding ( Formerly named North Cape RIM Manufacturing) SEAKR Engineering Sechan Electronics, Inc. Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems US Inc. SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems US Inc. Senior Aerospace Service Steel Aerospace Servotronics, Inc. SIFCO FORGE GROUP Signal International SMT Corp Southco, Inc. Spincraft Spirit Electronics, Inc. SPX Precision Components Starwin Industries Sunshine Metals, Inc. SupplyScape Corporation Sypris Electronics TechSolve, Inc. TEK Precision Co. Ltd. Telephonics Corporation The Ferco Group The Wharton School - Executive Education Therm, Inc. Thermal Solutions, Inc. TIGHITCO, Inc. Tiodize Co., Inc. TMX Aerospace Tri Polus Inc. TTI, Inc. TTM Technologies, Inc. TW Metals UMA, Inc. Unicircuit Inc. United Performance Metals University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Tennessee - Aerospace Defense Clearing House Vishay Vulcanium Metals Incorporated Waer Systems, Inc. West Cobb Engineering & Tool Co. Inc. Wind River Systems Windings, Inc. X-Ray Industries Xerox Corporation XyEnterprise Yarde Metals

Submarine launch of a Lockheed Trident missile V-22 in flight. SpaceShipOne The Predator UAV made by General Atomics affiliate General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

References

1. ^ "Patent thickets and the Wright Brothers". ipbiz.blogspot.com. 2006-07-01. http://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2006/07/patent-thickets-and-wright-brothers.html. Retrieved 2009-03-07. "In 1917, as a result of a recommendation of a committee formed by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (The Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt), an aircraft patent pool was privately formed encompassing almost all aircraft manufacturers in the United States. The creation of the Manufacturer's Aircraft Association was crucial to the U.S. government because the two major patent holders, the Wright Company and the Curtiss Company, had effectively blocked the building of any new airplanes, which were desperately needed as the United States was entering World War I." 
2. ^ "The Wright Brothers, Patents, and Technological Innovation". buckeyeinstitute.org. http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/article/197. Retrieved 2009-03-07. "This unusual arrangement could have been interpreted as a violation of antitrust law, but fortunately it was not. It served a clear economic purpose: preventing the holder of a single patent on a critical component from holding up creation of an entire aircraft. Practically, the pool had no effect on either market structure or technological advances. Speed, safety, and reliability of US made airplanes improved steadily over the years the pool existed (up to 1975). Over that time several firms held large shares of the commercial aircraft market: Douglas, Boeing, Lockheed, Convair, and Martin, but no one of them dominated it for very long." 
3. ^ "THE CROSS-LICENSING AGREEMENT". history.nasa.gov. http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4103/ch2.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-07. 

External links

• AIA website
• AIA Board of Governors
• Bio of Marion C. Blakey
• List of AIA Members(links to AIA Member websites)