Flying on the Wings of Change

Aviation is entering a new era, with new classes of aircraft taking to the skies. With this increase in types of aircraft and flight hours logged, safety concerns are prompting reevaluations of traditional design and maintenance practices. For the first time in 80 years, the federal government has turned to consensus standards to reduce the regulatory burden on aircraft manufacturers for aircraft certification. These developments can be considered a revolution in aviation practices. This paper gives an overview of how ASTM International is contributing to the changes, especially in application of consensus standards to design/maintenance practices.