Hosted by SAE International, AIAA, Royal Aeronautical Society, and Vertical Flight Society

Collocated with SAE International's AeroTech aerospace technology conference.

Technical papers are solicited for advancements in the arts, sciences, and technologies that apply to the design and operation of V/STOL and eV/STOL aircraft systems, including lift systems, attitude control systems, airframe configurations, subsystems, handling qualities and safety, navigation and air traffic control, noise and pollution suppression, ground handling, and ground time minimization.

Topics for IPLC 2026 include:

• Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft using Battery, Hybrid- or Hydrogen-Electric Energy Systems and/or Electric Motors for Powered Lift and Control
• Advanced Flight Controls, Cockpit Automation, and Autonomy of Crewed and Uncrewed Systems
• Breaking Developments in V/STOL-Enabling Sciences and Technologies
• Convertiplane (Tiltrotor, Tiltwing, and Stopped Rotor) Concepts and Design
• Current and Historical V/STOL Aircraft Technology Overviews and Project/Program Updates
• Fan-Lift and Jet-Lift Systems Design and Fixed-Wing Aircraft Integration
• Heavy through Ultra-Heavy Lift V/STOL Transport Aircraft Design (>20,000 kg payload capability)
• Issues and Solutions for VTOL Operations of Small UAV Operating Under FAR Part 107
• Rotorcraft Lift-Compounding and Thrust-Compounding Systems Design and Vehicle Integration
• Single- and Multi-Rotor Drone Systems Design and Vehicle Integration
• Other Topics in V/STOL Aircraft Systems

Important information:

To present in the technical program, speakers/presenters must register and pay a registration fee to attend AeroTech.

• The Technical Program Participant registration rate is discounted from the full conference price in recognition and appreciation of your technical paper and/or presentation.
• No further discounts, reductions, or promotional codes can/will be granted.
• Offered papers shall not have been published previously. If paper is accepted, contributors will not release paper for publication elsewhere.

Regarding technical papers:

• Papers presented and accepted for the conference will be considered for publication in the SAE International Journal of Advances and Current Practices in Mobility.
• To be considered for the Journal, papers must include 10-15 references.
• Click here to learn more about submitting your research to SAE International Scholarly Journals. 
• Interested in publishing a technical paper without presenting? Submit your manuscript through Editorial Manager.

The following information is requested during the online submission process:

1. Name of presenter/author and co-authors, plus all contact information
2. Submission type [e.g., Oral presentation (no paper) or Paper & oral presentation,]
3. Topic (most-appropriate technical session); each abstract must be submitted to only ONE session.
4. Title of presentation/paper
5. Learning objective (what attendees will learn; short description of talk and its importance/relevance)
6. Abstract (summary that states the objective of presentation/paper)

Upon submission, you will receive an automatic reply via e-mail. If you do not receive a confirmation, please retry submission. Contact Heather.Smith@sae.org for assistance.

Key deadlines:

• Abstracts due: August 29, 2025
• Review-ready manuscripts due: November 11, 2025
• Peer-review feedback on manuscripts due by: December 12, 2025
• Revised manuscripts due: January 27, 2026
• Final manuscripts, copyright assignments, and final presentations due: March 10, 2026
• Speakers/presenters register to attend AeroTech to present in-person (at a discounted Technical Program Participant rate): April 1, 2026.

For more information, visit https://aerotech.sae.org.

The following conditions apply:

• Registration is required for speaker attendance and presentation.
• All presenters must register by April 1, 2026 (4 weeks prior to the start of the event) or speaking time slot and technical paper are subject to cancellation.
• Manuscripts are subject to cancellation (not published) if author / presenter does not show up for scheduled presentation time.
• Paper acceptance will be based on organizer-moderated peer review of review-ready manuscript.
• Author resources, useful in preparing your paper, are provided online at sae.org/participate/volunteer/author

Nominations sought for the AIAA Newbold Award
The AIAA F.E. Newbold V/STOL Award is presented to recognize outstanding creative contributions to the advancement and realization of powered lift flight in one or more of the following areas: initiation, definition and/or management of key V/STOL programs; development of enabling technologies including critical methodology; program engineering and design; and/or other relevant related activities or combinations thereof which have advanced the science of powered lift flight. More information can be found here: F.E. Newbold Award | AIAA

Interested in publishing a technical paper without presenting at AeroTech?
You are invited to submit your technical paper here:
https://www.editorialmanager.com/saetechpapers.