Aerospace & Aviation

Washington State has been at the forefront of innovation in the aviation and aerospace industry for more than a century, designing and building some of the most advanced and successful commercial and military aircraft, uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and space exploration vehicles the world has ever seen. Today, the state’s aviation and aerospace industry benefits from a dense ecosystem of innovation and collaboration that continues to dominate global markets.

Washington’s robust supply chain and highly skilled workforce enable companies to produce more revenue, sell more products and services, and generate more profits. The state consistently ranks at the top of industry rankings for productivity, innovation, workforce and business-friendly tax structure.

While aircraft production has been the foundation of the industry for more than 100 years, the presence of other aviation and aerospace-related industries – space, electric, hydrogen and hybrid-powered aircraft, uncrewed and autonomous systems, and next-generation air mobility – continue to drive new opportunities.

In-Depth

As air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, demand for new aircraft is increasing, as is the need to confront rising carbon dioxide emissions and their global impact. Hydrogen, electric and hybrid hydrogen-electric propulsion systems are making promising inroads on small commuter, private and short-range commercial aircraft. Initial tests have been conducted on retrofitted fossil-fuel aircraft, but new ground-up designs are emerging from factory floors and undergoing flight trials.

Sustainable Fuels
With an abundance of clean energy and feedstock, Washington State leads the way for SAF infrastructure. Recent legislation creates tax credits that will provide subsidies of up to $2 per gallon for SAF. Another bill accelerates permitting and environmental review for constructing clean energy plants.  The state also provides grant support for industrial symbiosis and site readiness.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has committed to ensuring that at least 10% of all aviation fuel will be Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the future. To further research, development and adoption, the state’s Sustainable Aviation Technologies and Energies (SATE) Cluster Innovation Accelerator Program is researching new opportunities in aviation fuels, electrified aircraft and new propulsion technologies to meet the industry’s aggressive decarbonization goals.

Industry 4.0
Washington is particularly well positioned for the arrival of Industry 4.0, which will change the face of how aircraft are designed and produced with its focus on automation, real-time data and connectivity. Robotics, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing and a host of interrelated disciplines will reduce risk and compress the development and production timeframe for new aircraft and subsequent iterations. With its century of know-how and proximity to a huge tech sector of more than 15,000 companies, Washington is the natural choice for aerospace and aviation companies that want to dominate the market for the next several decades.

Automation
Technology is changing how aircraft and systems are designed and built. Close collaboration with the state’s world-renowned information and communication technology sector is facilitating changes at all levels, from the factory floor to the cockpit.

Augmented, virtual, and mixed reality are being integrated into training programs to improve skills transfer and knowledge retention. Artificial intelligence is automating the process of testing and analysis, driving innovation in autonomous platforms, drone detection, language guidance, and autonomous flight controls for the aircraft of tomorrow.

In the state’s factories, robots are increasingly automating what used to be manual processes and collaborative robots, or cobots, are combining the benefits of machine and human learning to optimize routine tasks such as palletizing and machine tending.

Uncrewed Systems
Washington is at the leading edge of uncrewed aircraft systems. Often referred to as drones, uncrewed aircraft systems or UAS are widely used in transportation, agriculture, media production and public safety. Over the next decade, the UAS industry is expected to create 100,000 jobs and generate $82 billion for the U.S. economy.

Current industry players include Amazon, which is working on its drone-based delivery system, Boeing subsidiary Insitu, which builds fixed-wing drones for the U.S. military, Applewhite Aero for intermediate-scale UAS engineering and Freefly Systems, which is building high-end drones as well as image stabilization hardware for cinematography.

Urban and Advanced Air Mobility programs are also underway. Urban Air Mobility (UAM) will utilize highly automated aircraft to transport cargo and passengers within urban and suburban centers at lower altitudes. Opportunities exist for companies interested in developing a new generation of vehicles and the framework for safe air and ground operations. Advanced Air Mobility is the next logical step, creating transportation systems that can work intercity, deliver cargo and spawn a new generation of private and recreational vehicles.

Buildout at scale will consist of transportation services for passengers, including airport shuttles, air taxis and air ambulances, which, while still years away, provide businesses with a wealth of possibilities in an as-yet untapped market.

Super/Hypersonic
Early attempts to build successful supersonic aircraft were plagued with technical problems and noise pollution. But new concepts on the drawing boards utilize recent advances in propulsion and aerodynamics to increase operational efficiencies while reducing the impact of the characteristic sonic booms as the plane pushes through the sound barrier. As these new concepts go from the drawing board to the runway, the Port of Moses Lake’s 13,500-foot runway provides visionaries with the ideal testing ground for flight tests and ground operations.

Space
While the commercial space cluster is a relatively recent endeavor, space companies have been developing spacecraft systems in Washington for more than six decades, from rockets and satellites to orbital and sub-orbital vehicles. Approximately 50% of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites are manufactured in Washington. The industry is predicted to grow annually by 5%, reaching $558 billion in 2026.