Académie de l'air et de l'espace

Established in 1983[1] in Toulouse on the initiative of André Turcat, the aims of the academy are the following: "To encourage the development of high quality scientific, technical, cultural and Human Actions in the realms of Air and Space,[2] promote knowledge in these areas and constitute a focal point for activities".

[3] Its members, who come from all walks of aerospace life : pilots,[4] astronauts, scientists, engineers, doctors, manufacturers,[5] economists, lawyers, artists[6] ... all work together to achieve these essential goals.

It is the former chief test pilot of the Concorde, André Turcat, who got the National Academy of Air and Space out of limbo as much through his reputation within French aeronautics as well as with the municipal authorities of Toulouse.

[8] The material support of La Ville Rose allowed the installation of the academy on the site of the former Jolimont observatory and, for the hundredth anniversary of the first human flight, the thirty five founding members gathered on 21 November 1983, in a plenary assembly.

The academy organizes international conferences and forums, presents exhibitions, gives out awards or medals to people who have made distinguished contributions.