Aerospace Arizona Association

08/01/2025

We enjoyed collaborating with our partners across the Aerospace Industry at the hashtag Aerospace, Aviation, Defense & Manufacturing Conference in Tucson at Pima Community College's cutting-edge Aviation Technology Campus.

We heard strong discussion about Arizona's continued growth and priority in the aerospace and defense sectors — and this event highlighted just how powerful our ecosystem is when academia, industry, and the military come together. Few states offer the unique combination Arizona does: world-class training programs, advanced manufacturing, military partnerships, and space for innovation to thrive.

We’re committed to advocating for Arizona as the premier place for aerospace to grow and soar. ✈️🌵 hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

07/03/2025

Aerospace Arizona Assistant Director Sarah Pacheco recently took part in the Arizona Technology Council’s Aerospace, Aviation, Space & Defense Committee meeting — and what a day it was!

The group toured the University of Arizona’s cutting-edge Applied Research Building, where some of the state's most advanced scientific work is taking place. The meeting featured highlights from the first Arizona Space Commission gathering, key discussions on workforce development, and a fascinating update from BlackStar Orbital about their startup’s exciting progress right here in Cochise County.

A huge thank you to the Arizona Tech Council for convening leaders committed to pushing Arizona’s aerospace ecosystem to new heights!

02/22/2025

BlackStar Orbital is coming to Cochise County! This cutting-edge company will be developing hypersonic satellites right at the Sierra Vista Airport, bringing innovation, opportunity, and high-tech industry to our community.

This is a huge step forward for Cochise County’s growth—creating jobs, fostering technological advancements, and emphasizing Cochise County's importance to the aerospace sector in Arizona. Learn more on their newly launched website: https://www.spacedrone.io/

At BlackStar Orbital we are revolutionizing what satellites can do by reinventing what a satellite is. Welcome to the age of Space Drones.

02/19/2025

Our Executive Director had a productive visit with our representatives in DC last week, including a conversation with AZ Representative Rep. Eli Crane regarding the importance of Aerospace and Aviation in our state.

02/18/2025

Last week we joined the Douglas Business Network for their opening mixer at the Border Air Museum in .

The Douglas Municipal Airport is a slice of Arizona Aviation history! Here's a few fun facts we learned during the visit. To learn more, stop in for a tour!! 3200 E. 10th St. Douglas or call the visitor center at (520) 417-7354

- In 1908, the "Douglas Aeronautic Club" build a plane from mail order parts with no engine. It was pulled aloft by a pair of quarter horses! The engine, propeller, and wheels were added one year later. This was the FIRST "aero plane" in Arizona!

- Eleanor Roosevelt was the first, First Lady to fly from the East Coast to the West Coast. She officially designated Douglas as the FIRST International Airport in the United States when she landed there on June 5, 1933.

- Amelia Earhart, along with many other famous female pilots flew into Douglas as part of the "Power Puff Derby", an air race for female pilots that started in Santa Monica, CA and ended in Cleveland, OH.

- The Douglas Municipal International Airport was created jointly with Agua Prieta, Sonora in 1929. It is literally an international airport. The pilots can taxi directly into Agua Prieta as the North/South runway is contiguous with the Mexican runway.

02/14/2025

✨🚀 We’re thrilled to share that members of Aerospace Arizona have joined the new Arizona Technology Council Aerospace, Aviation, Space, and Defense Committee! This group brings together key industry leaders to discuss the future of aerospace innovation in our state.

Along with a collaborative meeting, attendees had the incredible opportunity to tour Honeywell Flight Test Operations, gaining firsthand insight into cutting-edge advancements in avionics and flight technologies. Adding to the excitement, the Vertical Flight Society —in town for their annual conference—joined the experience, making this a truly collaborative event for the aerospace community.

Arizona continues to be a hub for aerospace excellence, innovation, and collaboration—and we’re just getting started! ✈️🌎

🚁

04/08/2024

We were excited to sponsor the Symposium on Drone Geophysics and Remote Sensing 2024 Conference Reception! 🚀 It was amazing to have come to Arizona and to be part of such groundbreaking discussions and innovations in the field. Looking forward to hopefully welcoming these experts and enthusiasts back to Arizona in the future to further explore drone technology in geophysics and remote sensing. Darling Geomatics Arizona Technology Council

03/26/2024

We're looking forward to the reception! 🌟 It's an honor to support such a dynamic group of professionals dedicated to growth and innovation in the industry. In addition to a night of networking and collaboration, we'll hear from Jan Francke, PhD. on navigating the hype and reality of Drone GPR. We'll see you there!
Register here:

Symposium on Drone Geophysicsand Remote Sensing Christopher Columbus Park4600 N. Silverbell Rd.Tucson, AZ 85745 32°17'01.2"N 111°02'07.9"W SDGRS Reception March 27th, 2024 Room 204Tucson Convention Center280 S Church AveTucson, AZ 85701LAT 32° 17' 00"LON 110° 58' 24" This SDGRS Reception is a on...

03/11/2024

Our Association president, Mignonne Hollis, shared her thoughts on the progress for reauthorization in the US Senate, "The groundwork laid decades ago has propelled Arizona as an aerospace leader... the industry stands as one of the state’s most prominent economic pillars contributing to an estimated annual revenue of $929 billion in 2018."
Read the full op-ed in the Arizona Capitol Times : https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2024/03/08/arizona-aerospaces-promising-future-lies-ahead/.

It’s taken many years of hard work to position Arizona among the industry’s top developers, and there is still so much more our state has to offer with new aerospace programs helping to build the next generation of aviation engineers. We can all take pride in looking up at the clear skies of our...

01/15/2024

Today we honor the lasting legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate his impact on equality and justice for all people. We start off 2024 with a commitment to always acting with integrity and in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's teachings, standing for equity and bettering our communities.