What Happens in Vegas Doesn't Stay in Vegas

 In July, I was invited to speak at the AIAA AVIATION Symposium, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Aviation Symposium is a gathering of more than 2,500 professionals shaping the future of aerospace. A major theme was navigating the future, with a spotlight on sustainability and AI—two forces that will profoundly affect not only air vehicles, but also fuels, propulsion, training, and air traffic management.  AIAA does it right.  Lots of resources. 

I shared my perspective on the FTE challenges (complexity, AI, and lack of professional standards) in a 45-minute talk, which really gave me a chance to flesh out the topics.  I also joined a panel on sustainability. While not my area of expertise, my key message resonated: every model, roadmap, and visionary design must eventually be tested to prove its viability. Bringing flight testers into the process early is critical to making sound decisions that will propel our organizations toward more effective, safe, and efficient outcomes.

I came to the symposium unsure of how much interest there would be in flight test. I left very encouraged.  All my thoughts can be found in my LinkedIn message to SFTE members. 

Some personal thoughts, Vegas dry heat is more bearable than Texas heat.  25 years since I was last in Vegas.  It now has more of a mall flavor, with a fair amount of kids. Lots of fat people eating junk food.  The prices aren't cheap for food. And it is very average. The casinos still have a smoky smell. I didn't drop a single dime gambling. No urge to do so.  I didn't make it to a show.  I worked way too late and the prices seemed to high for a bunch of old has-beens.  The replica Roman architecture is much nicer than the real stuff, but it does seem out of place.  I'd never go there for a vacation.