Meet the registrars - Secura

Ever since the .aero domain was opened for business in March 2002, only members of the aviation community - including airlines, airports, aerospace companies, organizations, associations, government agencies and qualified individuals - have been able to register a .aero name.

Those registering for the first time must still obtain a Membership ID before signing up with one of the eleven registrars currently offering the service. The first of these, and still one of the domain's most active registrars, was Cologne-based Secura GmbH.

Meet the registrars: 101domain.com

101Domain.com handles more than 850 international domain name extensions alongside domain registration. It is an authorized registrar for the .aero domain. The company also employs domain management tools such as Domain Name System (DNS) record management and domain hosting.

Through 101Domain Worldwide Domain Manager, the company offers a secure web-based portal that consolidates domain names into a single company portfolio available anytime, anywhere.

Meet the registrars: InterNetX / PSI-USA

Since its foundation in 1998 in Regensburg, Germany, InterNetX has been recognized as a top provider of domain products and hosting solutions. With more than 2.7 million managed domains and approximately 1,400 hosted servers, InterNetX is one of the most successful wholesale traders for resellers and professional users in the international market. The company, with a reseller network of more than 19,500 partners, has established itself as one of the leading providers for white label solutions in the international marketplace.

New .aero sponsorship agreement with ICANN

SITA has signed a new 10-year sponsorship agreement with ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). The original agreement, signed in December 2001, had been due to expire in December 2006 but had been extended by ICANN (as was the case with other proof-of-concept sTLDs), to allow time for the conclusion of renewal negotiations.

Under the fresh agreement, SITA will remain the sponsor for the .aero top-level domain.

New policy draft for .aero from the world's air sports federation

It's not only large jets that are flying high. Individuals and organizations working in the burgeoning recreational aviation sector are also valuable members of the aviation community.

Founded at the dawn of aviation history in 1905, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) is today a non-governmental and non-profit making international organization with some 100 member countries. Its aim is to further aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide.

New policy to protect names of states, provinces and geographical areas

Following recommendations from the Dot Aero Council (DAC), SITA has introduced a new .aero policy reserving domain names relating to states, provinces and geographical areas, effectively removing these as registration options. The names join the existing list of reserved country names.

New, improved registration service launched for .aero domain names

.aero domain registrars can offer to their .aero customers a one stop shop for registration of .aero domain names.

On October 7, 2006 .aero the top level domain of aviation, will launch a new one step registration process for .aero domain names.

In the past, all customers had to pass a .aero eligibility verification process concluded by the issue of Membership ID from SITA before proceeding to register .aero domain names with a .aero registrar.

North American exchange

Once again .aero will be participating in the high-level ATA e-Business Forum, to be held this year from 17-19 October at Miami Beach, Florida.

The ATA e-Business Program focuses on the creation of standards for information exchange to support engineering, maintenance, matériel management and flight operations. Members include airlines, aerospace manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, repair agencies, software providers and consultants who jointly develop a variety of standards used to make information exchange easier and more efficient.

Oshkosh is the place to be

From 28 July to 3 August, the town of Oshkosh, in the US state of Wisconsin, becomes the place of choice for up to 750,000 people with one interest in mind - a passion for flying. Some 10,000 aircraft will be flown into EAA AirVenture by enthusiasts from around the world. This is the annual convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association - known universally as EAA - a body formed in 1953 as a local club for those who restored and built their own aircraft.

Passion for flying

Two .aero external service providers were present at the 2008 Oshkosh Air Venture convention inWisconsin, US, at the beginning of August.

Registry operator Afilias and .aero registrar Names Beyond welcomed visitors from all sections of the aviation community - from airport authorities to professional aviators. Their presence was part of a broader strategy to raise awareness of the .aero domain with business aircraft operators, pilots and aviation professionals - as well as air sports participants.