“The era of purely symbolic exploration is ending as we enter a new age of innovation where the space economy becomes an essential part of our daily lives.” — Forbes
On May 4, the PA Chamber proudly hosted the 3rd Annual Aerospace and Aviation Day at the State Capitol, reinforcing Pennsylvania’s commitment to innovation-driven growth and its role as a national and global hub for aerospace and aviation excellence.
The PA Chamber partnered with Lt. Governor Austin Davis, chair of the Aerospace States Association, and the Keystone Space Collaborative to convene students, industry leaders, policymakers, educators, and innovators for a day-long celebration of Pennsylvania’s expanding leadership in aerospace and aviation. The event also advanced important conversations about the investments and policy reforms needed to accelerate growth, today and for future generations.
Inspiring and Recruiting the Next Generation
The day kicked off with high school students from across Pennsylvania participating in exhibits and educational sessions focused on career opportunities in aerospace and aviation.
Featured presenters included:
- Aerium, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the aerospace talent pipeline.
- Horizon Aerobotics, a Texas-based aerial intelligence company that recently partnered to establish an autonomous aviation hub at the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport – an effort expected to create 247 highly skilled jobs.
- The Civil Air Patrol, the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
- The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, a two-year trade school for certified aviation technicians.
- Former and current NASA astronauts, who shared insights from their space missions, their current work, and the importance of continued investment in space exploration.
Growing the Industry Together
The day’s programming brought together policymakers and industry leaders to highlight both the opportunities and priorities shaping Pennsylvania’s aerospace sector.
INCLUDE First, members of the bipartisan, bicameral Aerospace Caucus – launched at last year’s Aerospace and Aviation Day – hosted a policy hearing demonstrating strong, shared support for policies that will fuel the sector’s continued growth and solidify Pennsylvania’s position as a top aerospace state.
Caucus members heard testimony from the PA Chamber and industry leaders on Pennsylvania’s aerospace ecosystem and key legislative priorities. Discussions highlighted the industry’s innovation and progress, workforce and economic opportunities, and the critical gaps that public- and private-sector partners must address together.
The PA Chamber also hosted a panel discussion titled, “Aligning Workforce Development with Aerospace and Aviation Needs,” which explored how to better prepare the next generation of talent for careers in this rapidly evolving field.
Pennsylvania’s Progress: Boldly GO!
Throughout the day, Pennsylvania’s leadership in aerospace and innovation was highlighted across four key areas:
Workforce
From K–12 pathways to postsecondary education, credentialing, and internships, Pennsylvania is strengthening its aerospace talent pipeline.
- The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics’ NextGen Aviation Pathway Grant supports students throughout their aviation career journey, with targeted opportunities in career and technical education and higher education partnerships.
- Aerium’s “Drones as Tools” program equips students with practical training aligned with high-demand fields, including agriculture and forestry.
- Lockheed Martin is coordinating a no-cost Aerospace Fellowship for high school and college students while investing nearly $96 million in its Valley Forge facilities to expand workforce opportunities and drive innovation.
- The Moonshot Museum continues to lead K–12 engagement through in-person and digital programming—including collaborations with NASA astronaut Mike Fincke—and has received nearly $800,000 through NASA’s TEAM II award for workforce development and career readiness.
Research and Development
Pennsylvania institutions and industry partners are translating research into real-world applications and commercial opportunities.
- Aerium has developed and tested infrastructure supporting safe beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations while maintaining separation from other airspace users.
- The University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences launched the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine, a $25 million initiative applying insights from spaceflight to improve human health on Earth. Led by former NASA astronaut Dr. Kate Rubins, the Institute is collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University and others universities to advance research at the intersection of space and health sciences.
Advocacy
The PA Chamber continues to lead efforts to advance policy solutions that strengthen Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.
- We’ve championed policies that reduce regulatory barriers, improve permitting certainty, expand workforce investment, and support innovation. We also played a key role in increasing Pennsylvania’s net operating loss carryforward cap from 40% to 80% – a change that helps companies scale, attract talent, and invest with confidence.
- Expanding EITC private capital funding limits represents a significant opportunity for Career and Technical Centers (CTCs), which serve more than 70,000 students across 18 career clusters -14 of which include drone technology.
Industry Investment
- Aerium is transforming the Southern Alleghenies region into a hub for next-generation autonomous aviation, with investments including a 63,000-square-foot facility, a BVLOS sensor network enabling real-time drone and aircraft coordination, and the nation’s first operational BVLOS medical drone delivery network.
- Pittsburgh International Airport continues to set a national standard with a $1.7 billion terminal modernization project, the development of Neighborhood 91—the world’s first airport-based additive manufacturing campus—and plans for the country’s first on-airport sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility.
What Leaders Are Saying
“Events like Aerospace and Aviation Day demonstrate that Pennsylvania has the foundational assets to lead in building the infrastructure that will enable the future space economy. The imperative now is to align investment, policy, and regional coordination to scale space industrialization and translate that advantage into durable economic impact.”
— Justine Kasznica, Founder and Board Chair, Keystone Space Collaborative
“If we are serious about building the future aerospace workforce, we must start by giving students real access to it…”
— Dr. Jimyse L. Brown, Executive Director, Moonshot Museum
“From cutting-edge research to high-tech manufacturing, aerospace is a powerful driver of innovation, job creation, and economic growth…”
— Senator Tracy Pennycuick, Aerospace Caucus Co-Chair
“The future is about investment and opportunity, and the aerospace industry in Pennsylvania is a key component of workforce and economic development.”
— Representative Joe Webster, Aerospace Caucus Co-Chair