The aim of this move was to increase the international visibility of SUPAERO and the ENSICA (both of which depend on the French Ministry of Defense), by sharing their faculty and experimental means.
[3] In February 2022, the École nationale de l'aviation civile, the biggest European aviation university, also joined the group.
ISAE-SUPAERO has implemented an ISO 9001 quality management system (2008 version) for all of its activities (education, research and support).
The historic logo of the former SUPAERO school: the owl, associated with the Greek Goddess, Athena, is a symbol of knowledge.
In 1909, Colonel Jean-Baptiste Roche, a civil engineering officer and a graduate of l'Ecole Polytechnique, had the foresight and vision to anticipate the needs and future scope of the aeronautics industry in the world and founded the l'École Supérieure d'Aéronautique et de Constructions Mécaniques, or the Higher School of Aeronautics and Mechanical Construction in Paris.
Also in 1930, the School moved to more modern buildings in « la Cité de l'Air », located boulevard Victor in Paris.
In practice, the institute is overseen by the DGA, Directorate General of Armaments (French Defence procurement agency) and under the direction of an "ingénieur général de l'armement".
ENSICA was created in Paris at the time of the Liberation, under the name, " École nationale des travaux aéronautiques " (ENTA or the National School of Aeronautical Construction), in accordance with article 8 of the law on finance of 1946.
The degree program was extended to three years with a new focus on industry and a larger share of civilian students.
The building of a new student center on campus helped create a cohesive identity and bring together the different graduating classes.
The undergraduate admission to ISAE-SUPAERO in the engineer cycle is made through two ways: the first pathway by which most students are recruited, is a very selective examination which requires at least two years of very intensive preparation after high school in classes préparatoires.
[14][15] The average acceptance rates of the national examination taken by students from classes préparatoires are indicated below:[17] Notable alumni include: