ABSTRACT
The commercial aerospace industry has, through a century of innovation, become one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing industries of our time. This chapter gives a concise overview of key innovations that led to the current global dimensions of commercial aerospace. It also paints a picture of the current industry’s structure, assesses its economic importance, and provides an outlook into the future. First, the chapter describes some of the major development milestones for products and manufacturing processes. A key example is the development of jet aircraft, which allowed faster and farther travel at lower cost. Another major step is the use of composite materials in modern jetliners. These allow efficiency improvements but also alter production technology and improve the passenger experience in the final product.
