What are the best sources for aviation research?

1 Online databases

Online databases provide a convenient way to access a vast range of aviation research. Popular and reputable databases for this purpose include Aerospace Research Central (ARC), Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and Transportation Research International Documentation (TRID). ARC is the official platform of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and offers access to over 300,000 publications, including journals, conference papers, standards, and books. AWIN is a subscription-based service that provides news, analysis, data, and insights on topics related to the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries. TRID is a free online database that contains more than 1.3 million records from over 200 sources, such as journals, books, technical reports, and conference proceedings.

2 Professional associations

For quality sources of aviation research, one should consider joining or following professional associations that represent different sectors, disciplines, or regions of the aviation industry. These organizations often provide access to newsletters, magazines, journals, or blogs that showcase the latest research, best practices, and innovations in their fields. Moreover, they organize events such as webinars, workshops, or conferences where one can network with other aviation professionals and learn from experts. Examples of such professional associations include the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), and Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). ICAO sets standards and regulations for international civil aviation and publishes reports, statistics, and documents on topics such as air navigation and safety. FSF is an independent and non-profit organization that promotes safety and efficiency in aviation; it publishes a monthly magazine called AeroSafety World with articles about aviation safety issues and solutions. Lastly, RAeS is the oldest and most prestigious professional body for aerospace engineering and aviation in the world; it publishes several journals such as The Aeronautical Journal, The Journal of Aeronautical History, and Aerospace which cover various aspects of aviation research and history.

3 Libraries and archives

If you prefer to do your aviation research offline or need to access historical or rare materials, you may want to visit libraries and archives that specialize in aviation or have significant collections of aviation-related documents. These places offer books, magazines, newspapers, maps, photos, videos, and other records that document the history, development, and impact of aviation. Three notable libraries and archives for aviation research are the National Air and Space Museum Library and Archives in Washington D.C. and Virginia, the National Aerospace Library in Farnborough, England, and the NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) online archive. The National Air and Space Museum Library and Archives holds more than 1.5 million items related to aviation and space exploration, while the National Aerospace Library contains over 100,000 books with 40,000 journals, 800,000 photographs, and 5,000 drawings and paintings related to aerospace and aviation. NTRS contains more than 500,000 documents dating from 1915 to the present.