New digital systems, electric propulsion, and next‑generation aircraft are reshaping what it means to be an aerospace technician. But with technology outpacing traditional skill‑training methods, the committee on aerospace personnel (F46) now has a slate of standard revisions and new work items under development, all geared toward keeping pace with innovation and strengthening workforce readiness.
“Electric aircraft are coming,” says William Tramper, the committee’s chair, a role he has held since 2022 after first serving as vice chair. “Right now, system electronics are evolving so fast. Technicians need a clear path to stay ahead of it. We’re preparing the aviation workforce for what’s coming next.”
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#aviation #aerospace #aircraft
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a whopping 40% of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol and related co-products, a staggering 5 billion bushels annually.
Globally, the numbers are even more impressive, with the USDA estimating total production of 1.1–1.2 billion metric tonnes per year, noting that China and Brazil are the second and third largest producers, respectively, after the U.S. In short, corn has become a critical part of everyday life, with its impact stretching far beyond that of a dietary staple.
And with over 60 countries currently imposing ethanol mandates of some kind for the petroleum industry, the need for standards to help convert this abundant resource into usable fuel for cars, trucks, and more is essential.
Click on our bio for a link to an article.
#ethanol #biodiesel #corn #crops #farming #agriculture
Did you know that ASTM International sets standards for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) primarily through specification ASTM D7566, ensuring it is safe, high-quality, and interchangeable with conventional jet fuel. Once blended, this "drop-in" fuel meets ASTM D1655 standards.
There are also standards for jet fuel integrity (D8615) — whereby a method can be used by fuel manufacturers, regulatory bodies, contract labs, and anyone in the supply chain to verify the quality of jet fuel in terms of freezing point.
ASTM International’s petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants committee (D02) has also created a specification that will act as the first global standard for low-carbon fuel quality (D8651).
Waste plastic process oil (D8577). Corn fiber conversion for ethanol (E3503). And more!
Click through the carousel of images that help tell the story of how ASTM is "fueling the future."
(taken from the latest issue of STANDARDIZATION NEWS magazine)
#fuel #fuels #sustainable #ethanol #petroleum #lubricants #oil #lowcarbon #aviation #airplanes #automobiles #cars #gas #gaspump
According to the research firm Gartner, Inc., global spending on AI is forecasted to be $2.52 trillion in 2026, a 44% year-over-year increase. Such tremendous investments and fast-paced innovations have sparked concerns about AI safety and security.
To help alleviate anxiety around the governance of AI, existing ASTM International committees are looking at how to address this technology in new and existing standards for everything from consumer products to unmanned aircraft systems. And a new technical committee on AI in manufacturing systems has just been approved.
Learn more in a new STANDARDIZATION NEWS feature. Click on our bio link and look for "Standards and the AI Boom."
#AI #artificialintelligence #manufacturing #consumerproducts #UAS #technology
The benefits of standards and a standardized supply chain are clear: less variability means lower handling costs, fewer delays, and greater confidence in product integrity, which allows for more trade between international partners and greater satisfaction for consumers.
Craig Updyke, ASTM’s senior director of global policy and international trade, agrees that shared global standards are essential to freer-flowing trade. “Voluntary international consensus standards act as a shared basis for confidence and trust between buyers and sellers and between government regulators and regulated parties,” he says. “The member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed that consensus development and broad use of international standards can prevent unnecessary barriers to trade.”
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@worldtradeorganization #trade #supplychain #products #consumers #consumerproducts #WTO #TBT
ASTM International’s board of directors recently approved the creation of a new technical committee on artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing systems.
The new committee (F50) will focus on frameworks, best practices, and standards for AI technologies in manufacturing.
“The capability of AI in manufacturing has advanced faster than the data, validation, and governance practices that make it deployable at scale,” says Jay Lee, Ph.D., Clark Distinguished Professor and director of industrial AI center, University of Maryland, College Park. “That gap is what F50 is positioned to close. Bringing industry, academia, and government together at ASTM is how we move from isolated AI implementations to a shared foundation that the global manufacturing sector can build on with confidence.”
The inaugural meeting of the committee will take place June 3-4, 2026 during ASTM's committee week in Dallas, Texas.
Learn more by clicking on our bio link.
#AI #artificialintelligence #manufacturing #technology #industry #academia #government #industrial #data
ASTM International's Exo Center of Excellence (ETCoE) will be holding the 2026 Exo Games, August 3–7, at ASTM Headquarters in West Conshohocken, PA. The Exo Games provide a unique platform for university teams of students from various institutions to connect with exo industry professionals.
Working collaboratively, student teams will embark on the challenge of designing, building, and testing a self-contained exoskeleton based on a provided project specification. Their design solutions will be rigorously evaluated against the predefined standards established by ASTM's exoskeletons and exosuits committee (F48).
Interested student teams need to submit their Team Description Paper by June 8, 2026.
For more details, click on our bio link and look for link to 2026 Exo Games.
NOTE: this initiative aims to enhance student involvement and education in the dynamic field of exo technologies, with a special focus on Emergy Response. NIST is partnering with the ET CoE through a CRADA agreement to develop the underpinning metrology for exoskeletons and promote student STEM involvement.
@NIST #exoskeletons #exoskeleton #exosuits #exosuit #technology #engineering #standards #students #college #university #STEM #education #firstresponders
SAVE THE DATE! ASTM International is hosting its 7th Annual Autonomy in Aviation Symposium, organized by ASTM’s autonomy design and operations in aviation administrative committee (AC377).
The symposium will be held Oct. 5-6, 2026, in Jacksonville, FL.
“There is an ever-growing desire for increasing automation in aviation systems to enhance safety, address safety concerns, and enable new and novel operational capabilities,” said Wes Ryan, Northrop Grumman fellow in airworthiness and chair of AC377. “Our theme builds on previous years where we have focused on “Autonomy at the Systems Level”, and “Operationalizing Autonomy." In 2026, we’ll take an honest assessment of the limits of current technology, design best practice and human performance.”
Registration will open in early summer. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, click on our bio link.
#aviation #automation #technology #aircraft #flight #AAM #eVTOLs #UAVs
Sensory evaluation — including how to understand reactions at their simplest: “I like this,” “I don’t like that” and what is noticeable about products (using naïve or trained respondents) — has become a mature scientific discipline over the last several decades. And as sensory evaluation has become an integral part of product development and availability, the ASTM International sensory evaluation committee (E18) has developed numerous standards that have become central to the field.
Check out the latest STANDARDS IMPACT podcast for the latest episode which explores the science of sensory evaluation. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or click on our bio link to go straight to the podcast.⠀⠀
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In case you are wondering what today's image is, that's a genuine photograph of sensory evaluation professionals in the late nineteen sixties, supplied by then members of the committee.
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#SensoryEvaluation #ConsumerProducts #smell #armpits #deodorant
At ASTM's board of directors dinner earlier this week, 2025-2027 Director Philip Line (left) was presented with the committee on wood's Award of Merit by ASTM president Andy Kireta (right).
Philip Line has been a leader in development and acceptance of design provisions for wood construction, both through American Wood Council and through participation in the International Code Council.
@intlcodecouncil #wood #boardofdirectors #awards #ASTMproud
BSI Standards are now in ASTM Compass®!!!!!!!!!!!!
Together with the dynamic tools of ASTM Compass®, your team can now access over 90,000 British Standards.
Explore the full breath of BSI standards digitally, spanning construction and the built environment, ICT and telecom, food and retail, healthcare, manufacturing, transport and mobility, and energy.
With ASTM Compass®, your teams can work faster, stay compliant, and build with confidence... internationally.
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#BSI #British #UK #standards #trade #safety #construction #manufacturing #healthcare #energy
How hot do you like it?
Learn how sensory standards add spice to your life.
Join host David Walsh and his guest Sensory Manager Ali Schultz as they discuss standards for sensory evaluation from ASTM committee E18.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or click on our bio link and follow the podcast link.
#spicy #spice #spicyfood #instafood #wings #sensoryevaluation #sensoryscience
