Aerospace technology has had an ever-present and progressive position in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The aerospace research in I.R. Iran was initiated in the eighth century. The eighth and ninth centuries witnessed the attempts of Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi`s Zij al-Sindhind, which is a seminal work consisting of approximately 37 chapters on calendrical and astronomical calculations and 116 tables with calendrical, astronomical and astrological data, as well as a table of sine values. Iran’s space exploration efforts were continued till the 16th and 17th centuries when Baha al-Din Muhammad ibn Husayn al-Amili has probably written 17 tracts and books on astronomy and the related subjects.

Aerospace 

Iran with 8500 km coastal line and access to some international strategic waterways is an important country. Since ancient times, Iranians have always been actively involved in marine and its related industries. Ancient Iranian civilization mostly owes its progress to shipbuilding industries. Iran’s rich offshore oil and gas reservoirs are also another added advantage for Iranian marine industries.

Maritime industry in Iran comprises a wide range of varying areas such as shipbuilding, offshore structures, fisheries, transportation, ports, and tourism; hence, it is considered to be one of the most strategic sectors of the country.

Marine Industries 

Commercial development of the aviation industry in Iran started with creation of the first airline office in Tehran in cooperation with Junkers in 1923. It provided air travel services between Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Bandar Anzali, and Bushehr. A non-civilian body was also established in 1922 as the first official aviation organization in Iran.

Although initiatives for development of the aviation industry in Iran were primarily commercial at the outset, in 1930s the authorities decided to develop the two major categories of this important new industry; that is both civil and military aviation. Providing civil aviation services required establishment of technical and civil supporting organizations alongside the military services and logistics. This way, Iranian airlines started their services in 1923, in parallel with the military development.

The rapid pace development resulted in a partnership between the private sector and Iran Airways in 1944 through private sector investment. The next in this group was the Persian Air Service (PAS) which began operating in 1952. Iran Airways and the Persian Air Service merged as Iran Airline in 1961. In 1962 state nationalization of the air transportation industry led to establishment of the Iranian National Airline (called Homa in the Persian language) which operates under the regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Aviation Technology