Historically, humanity has had an inherent desire to explore not just Earth, but the skies above it. From antique hot air balloons and propeller planes, to today’s high-speed jets, aviation connects people across the world and beyond. In the U.S., approximately 45,000 planes depart from airports across the country every day. Nationwide, there are almost 20,000 airports and around 3 million passengers fly in and out of American cities daily.
Airplanes also play an essential role in trade, with the U.S. transporting 44 billion pounds of freight, including commercial cargo and mail, every year. Aviation is critical to the military and defense sectors — aircraft can carry weapons, cargo, and soldiers, and conduct aerial warfare.
Perhaps the most exciting sector of aviation is space travel and exploration. More than 60 years ago, the U.S. established its National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Since then, the organization and other private companies have launched dozens of rockets, spacecraft, and satellites in an attempt to uncover the mysteries of the universe.
▲ Rockets are a large, more modern sector of the aviation industry. Chemical engineers can play a significant role in getting spacecraft off the ground and into outer space. Image courtesy of Boeing.
The aviation industry employs many scientists, engineers, pilots, and more — almost 11 million U.S. jobs are generated from aviation. Chemical engineers have played an essential role in the industry from its inception.
For example, a 1932 article in Nature mentions an indispensable contribution by chemical engineers — the development of cellulose paints that were used on fabrics in hot air balloons and early airplanes during World War I.
Many innovations in paints, jet fuels, sealants, and even the manufacturing of airplane parts can be attributed to chemical engineering. Today, chemical engineers continue to work in the aviation industry to create materials for aircraft and ensure commercial flights and rockets run smoothly.
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