May 2025 in Review: Key Aircraft and Space Vehicle Engineering Standards Published

Looking back at May 2025, the Aircraft and Space Vehicle Engineering sector experienced a productive period of standardization, with five new or revised ISO standards released. These publications, spanning fastener procurement, stainless steel surface treatments, and aluminum anodizing processes, marked another advance in harmonizing critical quality and materials protocols across the aerospace supply chain. For industry professionals, compliance teams, and engineering managers, this overview provides a detailed recap of these significant developments, helping you stay informed in a landscape where the smallest detail can impact airworthiness and mission success.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 proved to be a month of measured, technical progress for Aircraft and Space Vehicle Engineering standards, with a clear focus on materials compatibility, corrosion prevention, and robust procurement requirements. The period saw both major revisions to enduring procurement documents, as well as modernization of legacy surface treatment standards for steels and aluminum alloys.

Notably, the concentration of standards in materials engineering reflects ongoing industry movement toward higher reliability, increased corrosion resistance, and improved manufacturing consistency. The release of updated standards for both austenitic and hardenable stainless steels, side by side with new anodizing procedures for aluminum alloys (in both undyed and dyed applications), underscores the importance of advanced surface engineering as the industry pushes for lighter structures, longer service life, and reduced maintenance windows.

This portfolio suggests a sector investing in incremental but meaningful technical upgrades—emphasizing process validation, detailed inspection criteria, and international harmonization—rather than headline-grabbing novelty. For organizations and professionals, these May 2025 publications set new benchmarks in procurement and processing, offering practical anchors for risk mitigation, product assurance, and competitive differentiation.

Standards Published This Month

ISO 7689:2025 - Aerospace Series – Bolts, with MJ Threads, Made of Alloy Steel, Strength Class 1 100 MPa – Procurement Specification

Aerospace series – Bolts, with MJ threads, made of alloy steel, strength class 1 100 MPa – Procurement specification

This third edition of ISO 7689 represents a significant revision of the procurement specification for aerospace bolts featuring MJ (Metric Jet) threads and manufactured in alloy steel with a strength class of 1 100 MPa. The standard details the essential characteristics, acceptance and qualification inspection regimes, and strengthens the application of statistical process control (SPC) for high-reliability fasteners in aerospace applications.

Key provisions span material and dimensional compliance, detailed forging and heat treatment processes, threading (ensured by post-heat-treat rolling), and mechanical characteristics (including tensile strength, hardness, and recess removal torque). It also addresses the removal of contaminants and ensures surface integrity. The expanded tables for sampling and mechanical loads, as well as updated norms for inspection and documentation, mark important improvements.

This specification is intended for manufacturers, procurement entities, and quality assurance professionals specifying or auditing fastener procurement against the latest industry expectations. Its updates ensure harmonization with modern process control strategies, increased reliability, and traceability.

Key highlights:

• Revised quality assurance and sampling plans, including new minimum loads for tensile and double shear tests
• Additional requirements for dimensions, tensile strength, hardness, and torque characteristics
• Integration of SPC and statistical analysis for process validation

Access the full standard:View ISO 7689:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 8074:2025 - Aerospace – Surface Treatment of Austenitic Stainless Steel Parts

Aerospace – Surface treatment of austenitic stainless steel parts

The second edition of ISO 8074 delivers an extensively updated framework for cleaning, surface preparation, and passivation of austenitic stainless steel parts (including widely used alloys like 300 series, AISI 651, and A286) prior to non-destructive testing in aerospace manufacturing. This standard clarifies technical procedures for degreasing, descaling, etching, finishing, and final passivation, addressing both organic and inorganic contamination.

New to this edition are detailed requirements for rinse and dry procedures, rework protocols, and more rigor in process control and qualification testing. The quality control section mandates batch acceptance, corrosion resistance tests, and precise water quality specifications for process baths, supporting both product integrity and environmental compliance.

Anyone involved in the fabrication, maintenance, or inspection of austenitic stainless steel components—including component suppliers, MRO providers, and surface finishing contractors—should review and implement this revised guidance.

Key highlights:

• Expanded process details for cleaning, pickling, etching, and passivation
• Stringent quality control and water purity requirements
• Clearer criteria for process control and batch acceptance tests

Access the full standard:View ISO 8074:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 8075:2025 - Aerospace – Surface Treatment of Hardenable Stainless Steel Parts

Aerospace – Surface treatment of hardenable stainless steel parts

A parallel update to its austenitic counterpart, ISO 8075 defines comprehensive process and inspection requirements for the preparation of martensitic, precipitation hardening, and maraging stainless steels, such as 400 series, 17-7PH, 17-4PH, and other advanced aerospace alloys. This standard is tailored to address the unique metallurgical and corrosion challenges posed by hardenable materials, critical in structural airframe, landing gear, and engine components.

Technical requirements include detailed degreasing, stress relief, scale and oxide removal, surface smoothing, passivation, and a prescribed hydrogen embrittlement relief bake. Process control tests and solution maintenance are integral to the protocol, supporting robust corrosion resistance and readiness for subsequent non-destructive inspection.

Surface treatment providers, OEMs, and quality engineers working with high-strength stainless steel parts will find these guidelines essential for both regulatory compliance and sustained material performance.

Key highlights:

• Stepwise treatment protocols for a range of hardenable stainless alloys
• Mandated stress relief and hydrogen embrittlement relief bake steps
• Strengthened process qualification and control testing

Access the full standard:View ISO 8075:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 8078:2025 - Aerospace Process – Anodic Treatment of Aluminium Alloys – Sulfuric Acid Process, Undyed Coating

Aerospace process – Anodic treatment of aluminium alloys – Sulfuric acid process, undyed coating

In its second edition, ISO 8078 renews industry specifications for the application and verification of undyed sulfuric acid anodic coatings on aluminum alloys—the workhorse of modern aerospace structures. This process, crucial to increasing corrosion resistance and enhancing paint adhesion, is standard practice for everything from fuselage skin to internal brackets.

The standard sets requirements on water and bath quality, racking approaches, cleaning and deoxidizing processes, as well as anodizing and sealing procedures. Inspection and testing are detailed, with methods for verifying coating mass, thickness, corrosion resistance, and sealing effectiveness. Noteworthy is the inclusion of new requirements for hexavalent chromium-free sealing solutions, aligning with global environmental and safety expectations.

Contractors and suppliers performing surface treatments on aerospace-grade aluminum should adopt these protocols for regulatory conformity and to ensure the longevity of critical structural components.

Key highlights:

• Detailed quality assurance provisions and inspection procedures
• Updated water quality and environmentally friendly sealing requirements
• Revised process control and qualification testing steps

Access the full standard:View ISO 8078:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 8079:2025 - Aerospace Process – Anodic Treatment of Aluminium Alloys – Sulfuric Acid Process, Dyed Coating

Aerospace process – Anodic treatment of aluminium alloys – Sulfuric acid process, dyed coating

ISO 8079:2025 focuses on the dyed variant of the sulfuric acid anodizing process, detailing the extra steps, controls, and inspection criteria necessary to achieve consistent and durable colored finishes in line with aircraft manufacturers’ drawing requirements. Building on the undyed process, this standard introduces precise protocols for dye selection, application, rinsing, sealing, and quality assurance, ensuring not just corrosion performance but also visual and functional color consistency.

Key provisions reflect a growing need for reliable colored coatings, whether for component identification, camouflage, or other application-driven needs. Improved environmental controls and detailed documentation support both regulatory requirements and robust customer assurance.

Applicable to all aerospace manufacturers and maintenance providers responsible for colored finish specifications, this standard helps reduce process variability and rework.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive procedures for dye application and color consistency
• Enhanced bath quality and environmentally safer sealing recommendations
• Clear acceptance criteria for thickness, corrosion resistance, and sealing

Access the full standard:View ISO 8079:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Across these five publications, several telling patterns emerged in May 2025’s standardization activity. First, the strong focus on surface treatments—across steels and aluminum alloys—reflects the industry’s perennial drive to combat corrosion, optimize inspection outcomes, and increase the service life of lightweight structures. The co-release of updated standards for both austenitic and hardenable stainless steels signals a uniformity of approach and terminology across similar material families, easing cross-training and compliance checks.

Secondly, the enhanced emphasis on process validation, environmental controls (such as hexavalent chromium elimination), and water quality requirements aligns with tightening regulatory scrutiny of chemical processes and occupational health protections. This theme is especially evident in the anodizing standards, which now prioritize not only performance but also sustainability and operator safety.

May 2025’s standards also embody a trend toward more granular process documentation, traceability, and statistical process control, especially for fastener procurement (as with ISO 7689). These measures serve to satisfy both airworthiness authorities and customer supply chain audits, underscoring maturing quality assurance cultures.

Collectively, these standards reinforce the message that robust material processing is foundational to next-generation aerospace platforms, whether civil, commercial, or defense.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations impacted by these May 2025 publications, thoughtful compliance and implementation planning is essential:

• Gap Analysis: Assess your current process specifications, procedures, and supplier documents against the revised requirements of each applicable standard.
• Training: Update staff and contractor training to reflect new process steps (e.g., rework, hydrogen embrittlement relief bake, new water quality thresholds).
• Audit and Documentation: Strengthen internal documentation, batch records, and inspection/test records to satisfy the enhanced traceability and statistical control elements in standards like ISO 7689.
• Supplier Engagement: Communicate updated requirements to suppliers—particularly those involved in subcontracted surface treatments, fastener supply, or chemical processing.
• Timeline: Plan for operational changes well in advance of audit or customer deadlines; in many cases, transition timelines will be dictated by contractual or regulatory cycles.
• Resources: Leverage guides and training materials from standards publishers such as iTeh Standards to support implementation, interpretation, and readiness.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

The suite of standards released in May 2025—addressing alloy steel fasteners, stainless steel surface treatment, and advanced anodizing of aluminum alloys—signals an industry steadily raising the bar on quality assurance and sustainable materials processing in the aircraft and space vehicle engineering domain. These publications set precise technical, procedural, and verification benchmarks that will help organizations reduce defects, improve durability, and maintain regulatory confidence.

For professionals across design, procurement, quality, and compliance functions, staying informed on these changes is essential—not just for project delivery, but for operational resilience and competitive positioning. As always, proactive adoption of the latest standards helps safeguard product integrity, streamline audits, and reinforce a culture of excellence.

We encourage all stakeholders to review the full text of each standard and to consult with relevant technical committees or standards bodies for adoption guidance specific to your context.

Continue exploring and stay updated with all Aircraft and Space Vehicle Engineering standards at iTeh Standards.