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AIAA
Pacific Northwest Section |
September 2026 |
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September at a glance
A Boeing VP on what changed after Alaska Airlines Flight 1282
Plus LEGO coaches needed, YP space trivia, and a Seattle Space Week luncheon. For the Doug Ackerman event, RSVP by September 11. FIRST LEGO coach sign-ups close September 18. Ticket prices for the Space Week Lunch and Learn increase to $38 after September 23. |
Saturday, September 19 · RSVP by September 11
Doug Ackerman on Boeing’s Safety and Quality Plan
Boeing Vice President Doug Ackerman walks through the Safety and Quality Plan the company put in place after the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door plug failure in 2024—what changed, and how it is holding up two years on.
8:45 – 11:00 a.m. at The Museum of Flight. Come in person and pay for brunch, or join on Zoom at no cost. Hosted by our retiree group, but all are welcome. |
| Sign up by September 18
Martha Lake Elementary needs LEGO coaches |
Martha Lake Elementary is forming its FIRST LEGO League teams for the CANOPY season, and they are looking for coaches and mentors. You do not need a robotics background—training, resources, and support come with the role. Bring enthusiasm and a willingness to let kids figure things out.
The commitment is one hour a week in person at the school, plus training at the start of the season and the occasional virtual check-in. If you have a student at MLE, coaching gets them priority to participate. |
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The form closes Friday, September 18, 2026. |
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On the calendar
Also this monthWed Sep 23 | YP Meet-Up: Space Trivia 7:00 p.m. · Outer Planet Brewing, 1812 12th Ave Suite 100, Seattle · Free
Space-themed questions, some pop culture, and a sprinkle of sci-fi for the nerdiest nerds. We will form one or two teams as needed, so come on your own and you will still have people to argue with.
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Wed Sep 30 | Space Week Professional Luncheon 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. · Mt. Baker Room, Centerpoint Commons, 20819 72nd Ave S, Kent · $35
Melissa Roth co-founded Off Planet Research, which manufactures lunar regolith simulant so companies can test hardware against real Moon dust before they fly it. She joins us for Seattle Space Week 2026, in collaboration with Space Northwest, to talk about shaping the space economy one batch of manufactured Moon dust at a time.
Doors at 11:30 a.m. Lunch included. Free parking.
Members save 15%. Current AIAA members: enter promo code MemberDiscount at checkout.
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Thank you
The volunteer pancake breakfast
Last Saturday we thanked our returning volunteers and welcomed some new ones. Pictured above: the youngest section volunteer, the fluffiest section volunteer, and the fluffiest pancake tower of the day.
Shout out to our Zoom attendees as well, who unfortunately didn’t get to share in the syrupy goodness, but still showed up. Thank you! | |
★ | Recognition from AIAA The Pacific Northwest Section was honored to receive two awards in the Very Large section category from AIAA National:Tied for first place: Outstanding Activity Award Third place: Section Communications Both awards came out of last season’s work—we’re ready to do even bigger things this year! |
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August member spotlight
Geenadie Rathnayake
Geenadie went from vice president of the UW student chapter and Automated Fiber Placement research at the G3MS Lab to a structural analysis role at Boeing, picking up AIAA’s Cary Spitzer Digital Avionics Scholarship along the way. We asked how she made that jump, and what she would tell a student sitting where she was four years ago.
Know someone who belongs in this spot? Send a name to communications@pnwaiaa.org. | Tell us what you want next
Which topics, which cities, which formats? The council reads every reply and it genuinely changes what we schedule. |
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