Hughes Aerospace Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Air navigation services |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Chris Baur |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
Area served | United States, International (including China) |
Key people | Chris Baur (President and CEO) |
| Products | Instrument flight procedures, Performance-based Navigation (PBN), rotorcraft operations, flight inspection services, noise abatement procedures |
Hughes Aerospace Corporation is a U.S.-based air navigation service provider specializing in the creation, validation, and upkeep of instrument flight procedures. The firm is distinguished for its proficiency in Performance-based Navigation (PBN) and rotorcraft operations.
History
Established in 2008 by Chris Baur, a former aviator with extensive experience in the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Continental Airlines, Hughes Aerospace was founded to address the increasing need for sophisticated navigation procedure development. Its clientele includes airports, commercial aviation operators, government entities, and international aviation authorities.
Located in Houston, Texas, Hughes Aerospace is certified by the FAA as a Part 97 Public Service Provider and holds endorsement from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as an official air navigation service provider.
Regulatory status
The FAA’s Part 97 Public Service Provider certification grants Hughes Aerospace the authority to design and maintain public instrument flight procedures within the United States. Additionally, ICAO recognition permits the company to offer services internationally, including operations in China.
Operations and services
Hughes Aerospace specializes in the design and maintenance of instrument flight procedures, with a particular focus on Performance-based Navigation and helicopter operations. Its principal offerings encompass:
- Development of RNAV, RNP, and GPS-based approaches tailored for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft
- Creation of COPTER-specific procedures along with low-level IFR routes
- Conducting flight inspection services utilizing aircraft operated by the company
- Implementation of noise abatement strategies, highlighted by projects such as those at Naples Airport in Florida
In 2025, Hughes Aerospace entered into a partnership with Garmin to introduce guided visual approaches that support autopilot-integrated visual procedures for WAAS-equipped aircraft.
Furthermore, the company designs performance-based navigation procedures including RNP and RNP AR instrument flight procedures.
Helicopter PBN development
From 2015 through 2017, Hughes Aerospace worked alongside Bell Helicopter to create helicopter-specific procedures for the Chinese aviation market. By 2019, it had validated an IFR helicopter network incorporating RNP 0.3 standards and RF segment coding.
Naples Airport noise mitigation
In 2024, Hughes Aerospace secured a contract from the Naples Airport Authority to develop noise reduction procedures aimed at increasing aircraft altitudes prior to descent. Field testing commenced in 2025.
Leadership
Chris Baur, founder of Hughes Aerospace, holds the roles of president and CEO. With a background spanning military service in the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, as well as commercial aviation as a Continental Airlines captain, Baur possesses academic credentials from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Brown University, and IE Business School. He is also recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Notably, Baur took part in the 1994 Salvador Allende helicopter rescue mission—one of history’s lengthiest over-water rescues. Since 2023, he has served as Industry Co-Chair of the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) and was elected to Vertical Aviation International’s board in 2025.