Hughes Aerospace Corporation

Hughes Aerospace Corporation
TypePrivate
IndustryAviation, Navigation Services
Founded2008
FounderChris Baur
HeadquartersHouston, Texas, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Chris Baur (CEO) Alyce Shingler (COO)
ServicesInstrument flight procedure design, validation, maintenance
Websitewww.hughesaerospace.com

Hughes Aerospace Corporation is an American air navigation service provider that specializes in the design, validation, and maintenance of instrument flight procedures. The company's work includes Performance-based navigation (PBN) and rotorcraft operations.

History

Hughes Aerospace was established in 2008 by Chris Baur, a former pilot with the U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, the US Customs Service and Continental Airlines.[1] The company was created to address growing demand for advanced navigation procedure design and expanded its operations to work with airports, commercial operators, government agencies, military, and international aviation authorities.[2]

Hughes Aerospace is headquartered in Houston, Texas. It holds certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Part 97 Public Service Provider and is endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other sovereign nations as an air navigation service provider.[3][2]

Regulatory status

The FAA has approved Hughes Aerospace as a Part 97 Public Service Provider, authorizing it to develop and maintain public instrument flight procedures in the United States.[3] ICAO endorsement allows the company to provide similar services internationally, including China.[2]

Operations and services

Hughes Aerospace designs and maintains instrument flight procedures, with a focus on PBN and helicopter operations. Services include:[1]

In 2025, Hughes Aerospace collaborated with Garmin to introduce guided visual approaches that support autopilot-coupled visual procedures for WAAS-equipped aircraft.[6][7]

In addition to fixed-wing procedures, the company has been involved in extending performance-based navigation concepts to rotorcraft and emerging vertical-lift operations, including satellite-based instrument procedures for heliports and vertiports and development work on guided visual approaches in partnership with avionics manufacturers.[8][9]

Projects

Helicopter PBN development

Between 2015 and 2017, Hughes Aerospace worked with Bell Helicopter to develop procedures for helicopter operators in China.[2] In 2019, the company validated an IFR helicopter network using RNP 0.3 and RF segment coding.[1] Hughes lead the FAA's Maryland State Police Project, featuring COPTER PBN Instrument Flight Procedures. This was the first time ARINC 424 Radius-to-Fix (RF) segment coding was used in COPTER Instrument Approaches, Departures and Transitions. It was also the first time Low-Altitude COPTER Airways were designed and demonstrated, by Hughes R66 flight inspection helicopter. The COPTER low altitude airways were predicated on Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 0.3, supported by WAAS/SBAS containment. Working with the FAA, Hughes created the ZK airway nomenclature for the COPTER Routes, enabling participating helicopters to operate at lower altitudes and avoid icing conditions. This led to the FAA Operations Certification H-123 for Rotorcraft Class I navigation.[10][11][12]

Naples Airport noise mitigation

In 2024, the Naples Airport Authority awarded Hughes Aerospace a contract to develop noise mitigation procedures. Aircraft altitudes were increased before descent, with testing beginning in 2025.[5][13]

Alaska

Hughes has participated in several Navigation Projects, supporting General Aviation (GA) in Alaska. A key and historic GA airport supporting the state's General Aviation network is Merrill Field in Anchorage. Hughes developed and published several GPS Instrument Flight Procedures at Merrill Field that are aligned with its runways.[14] During the closure of Kenai International Airport's main runway, Hughes was commissioned to design, implement and maintain instrument flight procedures to a taxiway, serving as the temporary airport's 6025' runway.[15][16]

Ground Based Augmentation System, (GBAS) / GPS Landing System (GLS)

Hughes in partnership with Honeywell developed (5) GLS precision approaches at Shanghai Pudong International Airport that demonstrated both the capabilities of GBAS and RNP. These were the first GLS precision approaches in China and the first successful demonstration of Advanced RNP to a GLS precision final approach.[4][17]

Philippines

Following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan to Leyte Island and Daniel Z Romualdez Airport (RPVA), Hughes designed, implemented and donated the country's first Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Instrument Flight Procedures to the Philippine government. This was in response to the destruction of the airport's radio navigation facility Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR), limiting recovery until the new PBN procedures were published by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in 2016.[18][19]

Myanmar

In 2014, Hughes and Honeywell partnered with Myanmar Civil Aviation Authority to implement the first Performance Based Navigation Procedures (PBN) at Myanmar's two busies airports; Yangon International Airport (VYYY) & Mandalay International Airport (VYMD).[20]

Oman

In collaboration the Oman Civil Aviation Authority and Oman Air, Hughes developed and implemented the first Performance Based Navigation Procedures (PBN) in Oman at Mukhaizna Airport (OOMK) and Khasab Airport (OOKB), situated on the Musandam Peninsula, in the Strait of Hormuz.[21]

Seattle Greener Skies

Hughes was one of the original participants in the Greener Skies over Seattle project along with Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Port of Seattle, and the FAA. A landmark project at Seattle International Airport (KSEA) demonstrating the environmental and time savings realized with Performance Based Navigation (PBN), utilizing Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Instrument Approaches, Continuous Decent Arrival (CDA) and Optimized Profile Decent (OPD) procedures. The seven-year project concluded in 2015. In June 2023, Hughes designed and implemented new (4) instrument approaches at neighboring Boeing Field/King County International Airport, reducing noise, environmental impacts and pilot controller workload.[22][23][24][25][26]

The HUGHES App

To address the complexities of Performance Based Navigation, it's geo-referenced digital charting products, hazards and safety solutions, Hughes developed its own iOS based application. The Hughes App is a no-cost application to serve the helicopter and General Aviation industry, in collaboration with the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). In a data-driven approach, the top three leading causes of accidents are Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), Inadvertent IMC (IIMC), Loss of Control-Inflight (LOC-I). The Hughes App address these with a VFR Prediction Tool, links to FAA Weather Cameras, Slackline Search tool[27][28] and Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) tool.[29][30][31][32]

Leadership

The company's founder, Chris Baur, serves as chief executive officer. Baur is an aviator with experience in military, law enforcement, and commercial aviation, including military service with the U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Air Force.[1]

In a 2025 interview, Baur said he began flying helicopters in the U.S. Army in 1983 and later served in the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Air Force (Air National Guard and Reserve).[33] He said that during his Air Force tenure his civilian job included serving as a pilot and criminal investigator for the U.S. Customs Service, and that he later became an airline pilot with Continental Airlines.[33] A profile republished by the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team describes him as a Customs pilot assigned to the New York Aviation Unit, and a captain in the New York Air National Guard. It further states he flew a HH-60G Pave Hawk during a December 1994 search-and-rescue mission, following the sinking of the Ukrainian freighter MV Salvador Allende which broke up during a storm in the North Atlantic.[34] The Salvador Allende mission is recognized as one of the longest over-water helicopter rescues in history.[35][36][37]

During his tenure with the U.S. Customs Service, Attorney General Janet Reno presented Baur the Federal Law Enforcement Officer's Association (FLEOA) Medal of Valor for heroism. He was also designated a Customs Air Ace 5.[38][39]

Baur holds degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Brown University, and IE Business School and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.[6]

While serving in the US Coast Guard, Baur took off from Floyd Bennett Field, piloting an HH65A Dolphin helicopter, in response to US Air flight 5050, which crashed on takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. Baur successfully located the survivors in the water who were swept by the current under the elevated runway.[40]

Since 2023, he has served as Industry Co-chair of the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), a regional member of The Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST). During his tenure, he created the first Peer Pilot Mental Health program for helicopter pilots and crewmembers. In 2025 Baur was elected to the Board of Directors of Vertical Aviation International (VAI), and currently serves as the board's Vice Chairman.[41][42][43][44][45][46]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bellamy III, Woodrow (February 1, 2019). "Airliner-Style PBN for Helicopters". Avionics Magazine. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Trautvetter, Chad (April 10, 2015). "Bell Helicopter and Hughes Aerospace Developing PBN for China". AIN Online. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hughes Aerospace PBN Executive Summary" (PDF). FAASafety.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. January 1, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "China Demonstrates GPS-Based Instrument Landing System | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Layden, Laura (April 1, 2024). "Naples Airport Authority hears update on Hughes Aerospace study". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Langfield, Mandy (March 4, 2025). "Interview: Supporting safety from every angle (Chris Baur, CEO of Hughes Aerospace)". AirMed & Rescue. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Garmin and Hughes Partner To Develop Guided Visual Approaches | AIN". Aviation International News. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Hughes Aerospace PBN Executive Summary" (PDF). FAASTeam. January 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ Thurber, Matt (July 21, 2025). "Garmin and Hughes Partner on Guided Visual Approaches". AINonline. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ FAA, FAA (March 7, 2017). "Class I Navigation" (PDF). www.faa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ FAA, FAA (2019). "SatNav News" (PDF). pp. 1–2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "Airliner Style PBN for Helicopters". interactive.aviationtoday.com. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ Layden, Laura (May 1, 2025). "Naples Airport to start testing new flight procedures". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  14. ↑ Stagnito, Kollin (January 4, 2025). "How it's made". www.aopa.org. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ FAA, FAA (May 23, 2026). "Runway Closure & Temporary Operations". faa.gov. Archived from the original on May 23, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Temporary IFPs upcoming at Alaska's Kenai Airport". Vertical Aviation International. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "China Eastern, Shangdong Demonstrate GBAS at Pudong". May 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ Nessen, Brian (August 11, 2016). "Philippines Airspace Turns on New Satellite-Based Navigation". Aviation Tech Today. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ Ray, Jonathan (October 1, 2015). "PBN: More Than a Navigation Tool". Aviation Tech Today. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ Nessen, Brian (December 4, 2014). "Hughes, Honeywell Expanding PBN Deployment at Myanmar Airports". Aviation Tech Today. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ Nessen, Brian (October 7, 2015). "Global PBN Deployment Arrives in Middle East". Aviation Tech Today. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ "What is the Greener Skies Program? How is NextGen impacting flight paths?". www.portseattle.org. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  23. ↑ FAA, FAA (2012). "Final Environmental Assessment" (PDF). www.faa.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ Ray, Jonathan (October 1, 2015). "PBN: More Than a Navigation Tool". Aviation Tech Today. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  25. ↑ ICAO, ICAO (November 1, 2012). "US/FAA NextGen: Greener Skies over Seattle – Case study" (PDF). icao.int. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  26. ↑ "New RNAV Approaches Improve Access, Reduce Noise at Boeing Field". NBAA - National Business Aviation Association. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Slackline nearly snared 2nd helicopter after deadly crash that killed Oregon family, NTSB says". opb. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Hughes Aerospace App Highlights Slacklines in Route Planning | AIN". Aviation International News. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Performance-based Navigation". Vertical Mag. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Hughes App App". App Store. April 23, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  31. ↑ Saturday Morning Coffee and WINGS (March 9, 2026). Saturday Morning Coffee and Wings - Hughes Aerospace Aviation Safety App Update. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via YouTube.
  32. ↑ "Safety Team IDs Top Fatal Helicopter Accident Causes | AIN". Aviation International News. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  33. 1 2 Langfield, Mandy (March 4, 2025). "Interview: Supporting safety from every angle". AirMed&Rescue. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  34. ↑ Isom, Joe. "The Valley of the Shadow". U.S. Helicopter Safety Team. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  35. ↑ "2 Crewmen From Sunken Ship, 7 Bodies Recovered". Los Angeles Times. December 11, 1994. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  36. ↑ "106th Rescue Wing Celebrates Milestones in 2000" (PDF). New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (Guard Times). 2000. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  37. ↑ "First Person: The Salvador Allende Rescue". Vertical Aviation International. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  38. ↑ Isom, Joe (Fall 1995). "The Valley of the Shadow". Customs Today. 30 (3): v. 13. ISSN 0897-1609 – via New York Public Library.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  39. ↑ Customs Today. U.S. Customs Service. 1994.
  40. ↑ "61 SURVIVE JET CRASH INTO NEW YORK'S EAST RIVER". The Washington Post. September 22, 1989. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  41. ↑ "USHST Names Chris Baur as its Next Industry Co-Chair" (PDF). U.S. Helicopter Safety Team. March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Baur Steps In as New USHST Industry Co-chair". Aviation International News. March 6, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  43. ↑ Vertical Aviation International Board Elections Enhance Industry Representation (PDF) (Report). Vertical Aviation International. March 13, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  44. ↑ "USHST Peer Pilot Program Offers Confidential Support to Rotorcraft Pilots | AIN". Aviation International News. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  45. ↑ Hartman, Nicole (March 26, 2026). "THE U-S-H-S-T Find Out What It Means for Helicopter Safety". FAA Safety Briefing Magazine. pp. 7–11.
  46. ↑ "Meet the 2026–27 VAI Board of Directors Executive Committee". Vertical Aviation International. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
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