It is awarded to members of the Spanish Armed Forces, Guardia Civil or civilians.

Established on 30 November 1945 by chief of state Francisco Franco as the Order of Aeronautical Merit (Spanish: Orden del Mérito Aeronáutico) and amended in 1976, 1995, 2003 and 2007.

The upper arm is surmounted by a Spanish royal crown and has a tablet to engrave the date of bestowal.

The round central shield of the obverse bears the coat of arms of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre and Granada (until 2003 only alternate coats of arms of Castile and León); in the middle there is a blue oval shield (escutcheon) of the House of Bourbon-Anjou.

The central shield has gold wings extended to the lateral arms of the cross and is surmounted by a royal crown.