FROM AIAA: Institute releases two policy platform papers ahead of U.S. election

By Steve Sidorek|October 27, 2020

It highlights need for continued investments and constancy of purpose

The AIAA Public Policy Committee has developed two platform papers in advance of next week’s U.S. presidential and congressional elections. The first is on space policy and the second is on aeronautics research and development.

The space policy platform paper highlights the importance of the nation’s space activities and the need for continued investments in space-related federal programs. More specifically, it calls for a continuity of policies and programs to maintain “constancy of purpose” and prevent excessive costs and delays, as well as a whole-of-government approach to build on successful past policies and programs. AIAA has identified several themes that must be addressed to ensure ongoing global leadership, maintain space superiority over our adversaries, and expand the benefits of this highly technological sector to society.

The aeronautics R&D platform paper highlights the importance of the aviation industry to our nation’s economic engine and our interconnectedness to the world. More specifically, the paper calls for continued long-term federal investment to allow for the stabilization and potential future growth of the industry during these unprecedented times. This includes robust government support of basic research that is often the source of technological breakthroughs fueling America’s engine of innovation. AIAA has also identified several key advancements in aeronautics and civil aviation that must be addressed to safeguard ongoing U.S. leadership.

Steve Sidorek is AIAA’s director of public policy and government relations