The commercial aviation industry is a crucial component of the American economy, playing a vital role in the transport of people, intermediate / final goods and the demand of various products and services nationwide. This network improves the quality of life of the whole country and facilitates commercial interactions inside and worldwide, increasing productivity and prosperity. However, the industry is faced with many challenges, in particular the need to reduce the increase in operational costs on a growing market to meet increased demand from the plane, electronic and freight travel sectors. Problems such as aging planes and components, technological progress and staff shortages still complicate these challenges, which hinders efforts to balance passenger safety with operational efficiency. To meet these challenges, the industry must innovate quickly and implement more efficient and more resistant planes maintenance practices, including the adoption of new technologies. In the Gateway to Blue Skies 2026 competition, the teams will conceptualize the new progress in aviation maintenance which can be implemented by 2035 or earlier in order to improve the efficiency, security and / or costs of industry. The teams are encouraged to consider technologies and systems with high potential which are not currently dominant or very considered to become current in the future, imagining beyond the status quo.
Price: $ 72,000 in total price
Open date: phase 1 – September 18, 2025; Phase 2 – March 13, 2026
Closing date: phase 1 – February 16, 2026; Phase 2- 15 May 2026
For more information, visit: https://blueskies.nianet.org/competition/
