History
Over the past 40 years, the Australian International Aerospace Congress (AIAC) has grown and developed into the preeminent aerospace forum in the region. Starting in 1985 with the first Australian Aeronautical Conference (AAC), AIAC has continually evolved, incorporating various specialised conferences over the years. This evolution has transformed AIAC from a single conference into a multifaceted congress that brings together professionals from across the aviation, aerospace and Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) industries, among others.
Throughout its history AIAC has included a wide array of conferences such as the Pacific International Conference on Aerospace and Technology (PICAST), the National Space Engineering Symposium (NSES) and the International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ISSFD). Each event has contributed to AIAC’s status as a platform for engineers, academics, researchers and industry specialists to explore the latest advancements, share knowledge and foster collaboration in aerodynamics, aerostructures, air and space operations and cutting-edge HUMS technologies.
Lawrence Hargrave Award
The Lawrence Hargrave Award honours Australian aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave, whose 1890s box kite experiments were pivotal in early aviation.
Presented biennially during the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition at Avalon, the award announcement is traditionally part of the Airshow’s opening ceremony, with the formal presentation at the AIAC dinner.
Eligible nominees include Australians who have significantly contributed to air and space flight, with nominations detailing their innovations and impact. The award recognises individuals at any career stage.
Past Papers
Past AIAC past papers are available via Informit. They provide valuable insights into aerospace research including the latest advancements and innovations in the aerospace industry, helping you stay updated with cutting-edge developments.
To view the past papers, click on the link in the first column below (where available).
| Congress | Incorporated Events | Location | Dates | Chair | Lawrence Hargrave Award |
| AIAC2 | AAC2 | Canberra | 18–20 November 1987 | Warren Harch | N/A |
| AIAC3 | AAC3 | Melbourne | 9–11 October 1989 | Gordon Long | N/A |
| AIAC4 | AAC4 | Melbourne | 12–16 May 1991 | Lincoln Wood | N/A |
| AIAC5 | AAC5 | Melbourne | 13–15 September 1993 | Colin Martin | N/A |
| AIAC6 | AAC6, PICAST2 | Melbourne and Avalon | 20–23 March 1995 | Bill Belton | N/A |
| AIAC7 | AAC7 | Sydney | 25–27 February 1997 | Ron Yates | N/A |
| AIAC8 | AAC8 | Adelaide | 13–15 September 1999 | Cyril Weatherall | Thomas Watson |
| AIAC9 | AAC9 | Canberra | 19–20 February 2001 | Rik Heslehurst | David Warren |
| AIAC10 | AAC10 | Brisbane | 29 July–1 August 2003 | Bill Anderson | Gordon Long |
| AIAC11 | AAC11, HUMS4, NSES15 | Melbourne and Avalon | 13–17 March 2005 | Murray Scott | Noel Schmidt |
| AIAC12 | AAC12, HUMS5 | Melbourne and Avalon | 19–22 March 2007 | Miro Miletic | Malcolm Crozier |
| AIAC13 | AAC13, HUMS6 | Melbourne and Avalon | 9–12 March 2009 | David Graham | Alan Baker |
| AIAC14 | AAC14, HUMS7 | Melbourne and Avalon | 28 February–3 March 2011 | Don Love | Greg Dunstone |
| AIAC15 | AAC15, HUMS8 | Melbourne and Avalon | 25–28 February 2013 | Noel Martin | Rodney Stiff |
| AIAC16 | AAC16, HUMS9 | Melbourne and Avalon | 23–24 February 2015 | Arvind Sinha | Colin Martin |
| AIAC17 | AAC17, HUMS10 | Melbourne and Avalon | 25–28 February 2017 | Raman Singh | John Corby |
| AIAC18 | AAC18, HUMS11, ISSFD27 | Melbourne and Avalon | 26–28 February 2019 | Sonja Jenkinson | Murray Scott |
| AIAC19 | AAC19, HUMS12, ACAM10 | Online | 29 November–2 December 2021 | Adam Groszek | N/A |
| AIAC20 | AAC20, HUMS13, NSES17 | Melbourne and Avalon | 27 February–1 March 2023 | Ben Main | Tony Carolan |
| AIAC21 | AAC21, HUMS14, NSES18 | Melbourne and Avalon | 24–26 March 2025 | Pier Marzocca | Gordon Pike |
| AIAC22 | AAC22, HUMS15, NSES19 | Melbourne and Avalon | 22–24 February 2027 | Aaron Sudholz | To be announced |