This article is based on an official press release from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

AOPA Partners with Windsock to Launch AI-Driven Aircraft Valuation Tool

On January 14, 2026, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) announced a significant new benefit for its members: exclusive access to Windsock, a data-driven aircraft valuation platform. This partnership marks a shift toward artificial intelligence and real-time market analytics for General Aviation (GA) asset valuation, moving away from traditional static “blue book” models.

According to the association’s announcement, the collaboration is designed to provide pilots, owners, and prospective buyers with “ground truth” valuations that reflect the current, often volatile, aviation marketplace. The initiative restores a critical service to the AOPA member benefits portfolio, offering a modern solution for assessing airframe value.

A Modern Approach to Asset Valuation

Windsock distinguishes itself from legacy valuation guides by utilizing machine learning to analyze real-time market data. Rather than relying on historical sales data that may be months out of date, the platform generates specific valuations based on a wide array of variables, including airframe time, engine cycles, avionics upgrades, and compliance status.

In the official release, AOPA leadership highlighted the importance of accurate data for members navigating ownership decisions.

“Aircraft valuation tools have historically been one of our most popular benefits… We’re excited to partner with Windsock to offer this benefit available only through AOPA.”

, Katie Pribyl, AOPA Senior Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Growth

Member Benefit Specifics

Under the new partnership terms, AOPA members are granted a tiered access structure to the Windsock platform. Key benefits include:

• Complimentary Reports: Members receive 12 free aircraft valuation reports every 12 months on a rolling cycle.
• Report Discounts: A 50% discount applies to any valuation reports purchased beyond the initial 12.
• Logbook Analysis: Members receive a 50% discount on Windsock’s AI-powered Logbook Analysis tool, which digitizes and scans maintenance records to identify inspections and compliance items.

Technological Capabilities and “Ground Truth”

Windsock, founded by pilot and tech entrepreneur Ian Hoyt, positions itself as a “tech-forward” alternative to traditional guides. The platform tracks pricing trends for nearly 5,000 aircraft make and model combinations. A standout feature noted in the announcement is the “Ground Truth Guarantee,” where the company offers refunds or credits if a valuation report significantly mismatches a documented value within a six-month window.

The tool’s AI capabilities extend to logbook auditing, creating searchable, structured histories of aircraft maintenance, a feature intended to bring transparency to the often opaque process of buying used aircraft.

“Together, we’re helping AOPA members make some of the most important decisions in their ownership journey with greater confidence and peace of mind.”

, Ian Hoyt, Founder of Windsock

AirPro News Analysis: Filling the Valuation Gap

We note that this partnership arrives at a critical juncture for AOPA. Following the discontinuation of the VREF valuation benefit in early 2024, members have frequently expressed a need for a replacement service. The General Aviation market has experienced significant price volatility since 2020, rendering static printed guides less effective for immediate transactions.

By partnering with a startup like Windsock.ai rather than returning to a legacy provider, AOPA appears to be signaling a broader strategy to modernize its digital offerings. The integration of AI for logbook analysis specifically addresses one of the most friction-heavy aspects of aircraft transactions: verifying maintenance history. If successful, this tool could standardize how value is assigned to avionics upgrades and engine health in a way that generic model averages cannot.

Sources

Sources: AOPA

This article is based on an official press release from GE Aerospace.

GE Aerospace Foundation Expands “Next Engineers” Program to Grand Rapids, Extends Cincinnati Commitment Through 2035

On January 12, 2026, the GE Aerospace Foundation announced a significant expansion of its workforce development initiative, “Next Engineers.” The foundation confirmed it will launch a new program site in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while simultaneously extending its existing commitment in Cincinnati, Ohio, through 2035. These moves are part of a broader $20 million investment strategy originally outlined in 2024 to combat the global engineering talent shortage.

The initiative aims to increase the diversity of young people entering the engineering profession. According to the company’s announcement, the program targets students ages 13 to 18, providing hands-on exposure to engineering concepts and career pathways. The Grand Rapids location marks the fourth expansion site announced since the foundation pledged to broaden its reach in May 2024.

Grand Rapids Selected as Newest Hub

The selection of Grand Rapids as a new “Next Engineers” site aligns with the region’s industrial profile and existing GE Aerospace footprint. The company maintains a significant presence in West Michigan, employing approximately 1,500 people focused on avionics, mission systems, and computing systems.

According to the press release, the Grand Rapids program aims to reach 4,000 students over the next four years. The foundation plans to announce a local academic partner in late 2026, with student programming scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Dev Rajakrishna, the Grand Rapids Site Leader for GE Aerospace, emphasized the local impact of this investment in a statement included in the release:

“Bringing Next Engineers to Grand Rapids will expand access to hands-on engineering experiences and help build robust talent pipelines for the future.”

Addressing the Regional Talent Gap

The expansion comes at a critical time for the West Michigan region. Regional economic data suggests a disparity between the number of engineering job openings and the number of local graduates entering the field. By introducing students to engineering concepts early, starting at age 13, the foundation hopes to bridge this gap.

Meghan Thurlow, President of the GE Aerospace Foundation, noted the strategic fit of the region:

“With its ties to aerospace, automotive, and other engineering fields, Grand Rapids is a natural fit as we expand our program.”

Cincinnati Program Extended Through 2035

While expanding into Michigan, the foundation also reaffirmed its commitment to its headquarters region. The “Next Engineers” program in Cincinnati, which was one of the original launch sites in 2021, has been extended through 2035. This extension ensures continued support for middle and high school students in the area for the next decade.

The Cincinnati program has already demonstrated measurable success. According to program data released by the foundation, the local “Engineering Academy”, the most rigorous tier of the initiative, has graduated nearly 100 students. Notably, approximately 40% of the first graduating cohort was accepted into the University of Cincinnati, the program’s primary academic partner in the region.

Program Structure and Global Goals

The “Next Engineers” initiative operates through a three-pillar model designed to engage students at different levels of intensity:

• Engineering Discovery (Ages 13–14): Short, exploratory sessions designed to spark initial interest.
• Engineering Camp (Ages 14–15): Week-long immersive experiences held during school breaks to build identity and confidence.
• Engineering Academy (Ages 15–18): A three-year college readiness program requiring 80+ hours of participation per year. Graduates who pursue engineering degrees are eligible for scholarship support.

The foundation has set a global goal of reaching more than 85,000 students by 2030. In addition to Grand Rapids and Cincinnati, the program operates in Greenville (South Carolina), Staffordshire (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa), Warsaw (Poland), Bengaluru (India), and the New York Capital Region.

AirPro News Analysis

The dual announcement of a new site and a long-term extension signals a shift in corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies within the aerospace sector. Rather than relying solely on university recruitment, major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like GE Aerospace are increasingly vertically integrating their talent pipelines, reaching as far back as middle school.

The 14-year commitment to Cincinnati (2021–2035) is particularly notable. In an era where corporate initiatives often operate on short-term cycles, a commitment spanning a decade and a half suggests that GE Aerospace views this not merely as philanthropy, but as a critical operational necessity to secure a future workforce. With the aerospace industry facing high retirement rates and increasing technical complexity, the “build vs. buy” talent strategy appears to be shifting heavily toward “build.”

Sources

• GE Aerospace Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from PsiQuantum and Airbus.

PsiQuantum and Airbus Launch “QuLAB” to Revolutionize Aerospace Design

On January 13, 2026, PsiQuantum and Airbus announced a strategic collaboration aimed at integrating fault-tolerant quantum computing into the aerospace sector. The partnership, centered around a joint initiative called “QuLAB” located at Airbus, focuses on developing advanced quantum algorithms to solve complex challenges in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

According to the joint announcement, the collaboration seeks to move beyond theoretical exploration and toward the development of practical, utility-scale applications. The companies aim to address aerodynamic problems that are currently intractable or highly inefficient for classical supercomputers, potentially accelerating the design of sustainable aircraft.

Solving the Turbulence Challenge with Quantum Algorithms

The core technical focus of the QuLAB project is the optimization of aircraft aerodynamics through improved simulation capabilities. Traditional CFD simulations often struggle with the immense computational power required to model turbulence and airflow over complex geometries, such as landing gear or wing flaps.

To address this, PsiQuantum and Airbus have developed a Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Algorithm (QLB). Unlike traditional methods that solve Navier-Stokes equations directly, the Lattice Boltzmann method simulates fluids as fictitious particles on a grid. The partners report that the quantum version of this algorithm leverages superposition to handle particle interactions more efficiently.

The collaboration has already produced a technical paper titled “Simulating Non-Trivial Incompressible Flows With a Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Algorithm,” the findings of which were presented at the AIAA SciTech 2026 Forum in Orlando, Florida. The research demonstrates how fault-tolerant quantum computers could offer exponential speedups in modeling these complex fluid flows.

In a statement regarding the partnership, Alexander Kolks, Chief Business Officer at PsiQuantum, emphasized the transformative nature of this technology:

“Our partnership with Airbus underscores quantum computing’s game-changing potential for the aerospace industry, and our shared commitment to collaborate at the leading edge. As PsiQuantum prepares to build and deploy the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum computers, we are working closely with world-leading companies to ensure they are prepared to take full advantage of this technology.”

Strategic Context: The Race for Fault Tolerance

This collaboration highlights a distinct shift in the quantum computing landscape from “Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum” (NISQ) experiments to preparation for fault-tolerant hardware. PsiQuantum, which utilizes a photonic (light-based) approach to qubit generation, argues that error correction is essential for achieving industrial breakthroughs. By leveraging standard semiconductor manufacturing, the company aims to scale up to the millions of qubits necessary for fault tolerance.

For Airbus, this partnerships is part of a broader strategy to decarbonize aviation. More accurate aerodynamic simulations can lead to lighter, more fuel-efficient aircraft designs, directly contributing to sustainability goals. This announcement follows Airbus’s previous engagements in the quantum space, including its “Quantum Mobility Quest.”

AirPro News Analysis

We observe a growing trend of “quantum readiness” among major industrial players. This announcement comes just months after PsiQuantum formed a similar strategic partnership with Lockheed Martin in November 2025. The pattern suggests that aerospace leaders are no longer waiting for utility-scale hardware to be fully operational before investing in software development.

By developing algorithms like the QLB now, companies like Airbus are positioning themselves to deploy quantum solutions immediately once the hardware capabilities catch up. This proactive approach mitigates the risk of a “software bottleneck” when fault-tolerant machines eventually come online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the “QuLAB”?
QuLAB is the project name for the collaboration between PsiQuantum and Airbus, located at Airbus facilities, focused on developing quantum algorithms for aerospace applications.

What is the specific technical focus of this partnership?
The primary focus is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), specifically using a Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Algorithm (QLB) to simulate complex airflow and turbulence more efficiently than classical computers.

Why is this important for the aviation industry?
Improved simulations can reduce the reliance on expensive wind tunnel testing and lead to more aerodynamic, fuel-efficient aircraft designs, aiding the industry’s decarbonization efforts.

Sources

• Business Wire: PsiQuantum Collaborating with Airbus
• PsiQuantum Official Site