Governance · Technical Structure
Technical Committees
Aerospace Federation Technical Committees provide continuing technical coordination across defined areas of engineering, operations, assurance and professional practice. Each Committee connects relevant questions, Working Groups and proposed outputs through a clear technical structure.
How the technical structure works
Technical Committees provide continuity. Working Groups carry out focused technical work.
A Technical Committee is a continuing AF technical body responsible for a defined subject area. It helps identify priorities, maintains continuity across related work, reviews relevant findings and provides a structured route for technical recommendations.
An Expert Working Group is assembled around a specific question, research need or proposed output. It brings together suitable expertise for that task and reports its work through the relevant technical structure.
| Technical Committee | Expert Working Group |
|---|---|
| A continuing technical body | A focused technical team |
| Responsible for a defined technical field | Formed around a specific question or task |
| Maintains continuity across related work | Works toward a defined deliverable |
| May identify and review technical priorities | Researches, analyses, drafts or tests a defined subject |
| May coordinate several work items over time | Normally operates for the duration of its task |
| Reviews work within its scope and supports recommendations | Reports through the relevant technical structure; it does not make final AF institutional decisions |
A Committee provides the technical home. A Working Group undertakes a defined piece of work within that broader context.
Understand the distinction
A technical home, not a blanket approval authority.
Read scope, responsibilities and related work together. Cross-disciplinary subjects can need more than one Committee.
Continuity and coordination
A Committee retains subject knowledge, coordinates review and connects related Working Group activity. Its public scope is the starting point for placing a question.
Technical focus areasFocused execution
A Working Group addresses a bounded question, evidence task or draft. A completed draft or Committee recommendation is distinct from authorized publication.
Technical Work ProcessParticipation is considered separately
Relevant experience and competence need to fit the subject and the applicable arrangements. Membership alone does not confer an appointment or voting authority.
Eligibility and participationFrom question to recommendation
Continuing oversight and focused development meet in one traceable route.
- 01Technical CommitteeMaintains a defined continuing scope and identifies or receives a question.
- 02Expert Working GroupWhere justified, researches, analyses, compares evidence or develops a draft.
- 03Committee reviewCoordinates the subject, reviews findings and may recommend a technical route.
- 04AF technical processConsultation, authorization, publication and maintenance follow the applicable process.
Committee review and recommendation are distinct from an authorized institutional decision. The Technical Work Process explains how a defined topic moves through evidence and review.
AF Technical Committee Framework
Fourteen Technical Committees provide the Federation's continuing technical structure.
Each Committee provides a defined institutional home for continuing technical coordination, review and related Working Group activity.
The framework covers major areas of aerospace engineering, operations, assurance, digital technology, industrial capability and professional practice. Committee boundaries help place questions without isolating disciplines that naturally overlap; a cross-cutting subject may involve more than one Committee.
Assurance & Safety
AF/TC 01 Aerospace Quality & Product AssuranceContinuing AF Technical Committee for aerospace quality, product assurance and lifecycle confidence.
Committee purpose
Aerospace quality depends on traceable requirements, reliable products and disciplined control across long lifecycles. AF/TC 01 provides a continuing forum for examining how assurance practices connect design, production, suppliers, configuration and in-service evidence.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions about quality and product assurance across the aerospace lifecycle, including interfaces with suppliers and other technical disciplines.
Key technical areas
- Aerospace quality
- Product and mission assurance
- Reliability and maintainability
- Configuration management
- Supplier quality and traceability
- Counterfeit prevention
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 01AF/TC 02 Aviation Safety & Operational SystemsContinuing AF Technical Committee for aviation safety, operational systems and risk-informed practice.
Committee purpose
Safe aviation operations depend on the interaction of aircraft, people, procedures, airports and supporting systems. AF/TC 02 provides a continuing technical home for cross-cutting operational-safety questions and for evidence-led discussion of how those systems work together.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical consideration of aviation safety and operational-system questions without replacing operators' duties or competent authorities.
Key technical areas
- Aviation safety
- Flight and ground operations
- Airport-related systems
- Safety management
- Cabin and ground safety
- Operational risk
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 02AF/TC 03 Airworthiness & Continuing AirworthinessContinuing AF Technical Committee for airworthiness and continuing-airworthiness technical questions.
Committee purpose
Aircraft remain safe in service through an evidence chain linking design, production, maintenance, modification and operational experience. AF/TC 03 offers a continuing structure for examining those interfaces and sharing technically grounded interpretation where appropriate.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical discussion across initial and continuing airworthiness while respecting the authority of applicable regulatory and approval bodies.
Key technical areas
- Airworthiness research
- Continuing airworthiness
- Design and production assurance
- Maintenance, repair and modification
- Technical evaluation
- Civil-military technical cooperation
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 03Aerospace Systems
AF/TC 04 Space Systems & OperationsContinuing AF Technical Committee for spacecraft, space missions and supporting operational systems.
Committee purpose
Space capability depends on the coordinated performance of spacecraft, launch, ground systems and mission operations. AF/TC 04 provides a continuing technical setting for questions that cross those elements and for the evidence needed to understand mission-system performance.
Committee responsibility
Connects technical consideration of space systems and their operational interfaces across mission phases.
Key technical areas
- Spacecraft and satellites
- Launch systems
- Ground segment
- Mission operations
- Space communications
- Space-system assurance
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 04AF/TC 05 UAS & Advanced Air MobilityContinuing AF Technical Committee for uncrewed aircraft and advanced air mobility systems.
Committee purpose
Uncrewed and advanced-mobility operations bring aircraft, autonomy, communications, infrastructure and people into new combinations. AF/TC 05 maintains a technical home for examining integration questions across those elements rather than treating a vehicle alone as the whole system.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions around UAS and advanced air mobility, especially system integration and operational interfaces.
Key technical areas
- UAV and UAS
- Autonomous aircraft
- Detect and Avoid
- Remote operations
- eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility
- Integration and interoperability
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 05AF/TC 06 Propulsion & Energy SystemsContinuing AF Technical Committee for propulsion, energy conversion and onboard energy systems.
Committee purpose
Propulsion and energy choices shape aircraft and space-system performance, safety, materials and lifecycle impacts. AF/TC 06 provides a continuing structure for comparing established and emerging technologies across these connected technical considerations.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical examination of propulsion and energy systems, including interfaces with materials, qualification and sustainability.
Key technical areas
- Aircraft and rocket propulsion
- Electric and hybrid systems
- Hydrogen
- Batteries and fuel cells
- Aerospace energy storage
- Sustainable fuels
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 06AF/TC 07 Avionics & Electronic SystemsContinuing AF Technical Committee for avionics, electronic systems and electrical architectures.
Committee purpose
Avionics and electronics form critical interfaces among sensing, navigation, communications, control and power. AF/TC 07 gives continuing technical attention to those interfaces as aerospace platforms become more connected and software-intensive.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions involving avionics, embedded electronics and electrical-system integration.
Key technical areas
- Avionics and sensors
- Navigation systems
- Communications
- Flight-control electronics
- Embedded systems
- Electrical architectures
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 07Engineering & Validation
AF/TC 08 Aerospace Materials & ManufacturingContinuing AF Technical Committee for aerospace materials, structures and manufacturing methods.
Committee purpose
Material behaviour and production methods influence the performance and repeatability of aerospace systems. AF/TC 08 provides a continuing technical setting for examining materials, structures and manufacturing together, including the evidence needed when new processes enter aerospace use.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions across materials selection, structural applications and aerospace production capability.
Key technical areas
- Metals, composites and polymers
- Coatings
- Additive manufacturing
- Advanced manufacturing
- Aerospace structures
- Manufacturing quality
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 08AF/TC 09 Testing, Verification & QualificationContinuing AF Technical Committee for aerospace testing, verification, qualification and validation.
Committee purpose
Aerospace systems depend on evidence produced through many forms of testing, verification and validation. AF/TC 09 provides a continuing technical structure for examining these activities together, identifying cross-sector questions and supporting consistent interpretation of evidence where appropriate.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions about how test and verification evidence is planned, produced, interpreted and connected to a defined aerospace scope.
Key technical areas
- Structural and environmental testing
- Thermal vacuum
- EMC, EMI and HIRF
- Vibration, shock and flammability
- Materials testing
- Software and hardware verification
- Simulation and validation
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 09Digital & Emerging Technology
AF/TC 10 Cybersecurity & Digital ResilienceContinuing AF Technical Committee for aerospace cybersecurity and digital resilience.
Committee purpose
Connected aircraft, spacecraft and ground systems depend on trustworthy software, communications and digital infrastructure. AF/TC 10 provides a continuing technical home for examining resilience across those interfaces and for relating cyber questions to system safety and operational continuity.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions about cybersecurity and resilience across aerospace systems, their infrastructure and digital supply chains.
Key technical areas
- Aircraft and avionics security
- Space and satellite security
- Ground systems
- Software and supply-chain security
- Secure communications
- GNSS resilience
- Digital infrastructure resilience
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 10AF/TC 11 Artificial Intelligence & Autonomous SystemsContinuing AF Technical Committee for aerospace AI, autonomy and their assurance.
Committee purpose
AI and autonomous functions can support aerospace systems only when their purpose, evidence, limits and human interfaces are understood. AF/TC 11 provides continuing technical coordination for these questions across engineering, operations and assurance contexts.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical examination of AI and autonomous-system use in aerospace, including validation, human oversight and system integration.
Key technical areas
- Aerospace AI and machine learning
- AI assurance
- Autonomous systems and navigation
- Digital twins
- Model-based systems engineering
- Predictive systems
- Human oversight
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 11Sustainable & Industrial Capability
AF/TC 12 Sustainability & Aerospace LifecycleContinuing AF Technical Committee for sustainability across the aerospace lifecycle.
Committee purpose
Environmental responsibility in aerospace extends from design and production to operations, retirement and, in space, orbital use. AF/TC 12 provides a continuing setting for examining these lifecycle connections through technically grounded evidence.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions about aviation and space sustainability, lifecycle impacts and responsible end-of-life practice.
Key technical areas
- Sustainable aviation and space
- Lifecycle thinking
- Emissions and noise
- Circular economy
- Sustainable manufacturing
- Aircraft end-of-life
- Space debris and responsible operations
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 12AF/TC 13 Supply Chain & Industrial ResilienceContinuing AF Technical Committee for aerospace supply-chain capability and industrial resilience.
Committee purpose
Aerospace systems rely on long, specialized supply chains in which quality, provenance and continuity matter. AF/TC 13 provides a continuing technical structure for examining industrial resilience and the practical interfaces between suppliers, manufacturers and assurance functions.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions about supply capability, traceability, risk and resilience across aerospace industrial networks.
Key technical areas
- Supplier quality and development
- Critical materials
- Traceability
- Counterfeit prevention
- Procurement resilience
- Supply-chain risk
- SME participation
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 13AF/TC 14 Human Factors, Competence & Professional PracticeContinuing AF Technical Committee for human factors, competence and professional aerospace practice.
Committee purpose
Technical systems perform through the people who design, operate, maintain and oversee them. AF/TC 14 provides a continuing technical home for examining human performance, competence and professional practice across aerospace settings.
Committee responsibility
Coordinates technical questions about human-system interaction, competence needs and safety-related professional practice.
Key technical areas
- Human factors
- Competence and professional capability
- Technical personnel
- Workforce development
- Professional practice
- Training needs
- Safety-related human performance
Role within AF The Committee connects questions in this field to focused Working Group activity, technical review and the applicable AF Technical Work process.
View AF/TC 14Relationship to Technical Work
Technical Committees connect governance with technical development.
Technical Committees
Provide continuing subject expertise, technical continuity, coordination, review and recommendation within a defined scope.
Technical Work
Provides the process for topic intake, evidence review, research, consultation, draft development and voluntary technical outputs.
Expert Working Groups
Undertake focused research, analysis or drafting for a particular question within an appropriate mandate.
Technical Work Overview Technical Work Process Expert Working Groups Public Consultations
Technical participation
Bring relevant aerospace expertise into AF technical work.
AF Technical Committees are intended to connect experienced engineers, researchers, technical specialists, operators, academics and other professionals with questions relevant to their expertise.
Participation is based on technical relevance, experience, the needs of the Committee and the applicable participation process. Membership creates a route into the Federation; it does not automatically confer a Committee appointment.
| Experience | Possible contribution |
|---|---|
| Aerospace engineers | Systems, design, materials, propulsion and avionics. |
| Test and validation professionals | Testing, qualification, verification and evidence methods. |
| Quality and assurance professionals | Reliability, traceability and product assurance. |
| Researchers and academics | Research, evidence and emerging technology. |
| Operators and maintenance specialists | Operational, safety and in-service experience. |
| Cybersecurity and software specialists | Digital resilience and software-intensive systems. |
| Space professionals | Space systems, launch and mission operations. |
| Human-factors and competence specialists | Human performance, training and professional practice. |
Early participation
As the Federation develops its technical structures, early members can identify fields in which they may contribute and share interest in relevant Committees or Working Groups. This helps AF understand where credible expertise exists. Roles are considered against the work's scope, available opportunities, competence and the applicable governance process.
Contribute technical expertise
Connect your experience with a defined technical question.
Explore membership or use the Federation's technical enquiry route to describe your relevant fields and experience. An expression of interest is not a Committee appointment.
Explore Membership Share Technical InterestsBegin Membership Pre-Application Explore Expert Working Groups