Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France

What Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France does

Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (3AF) is a French non-profit professional association (loi 1901) serving the aerospace and astronautics community in France. Founded in 1971, the association is headquartered in Paris (6 rue Galilée, 75116) and operates with a small 1-10 employee staff. Its core membership platform is built around technical commissions covering specialized topics (aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, helicopters, drones, materials, space transportation), 16+ regional groups across France, an online member directory, and a comprehensive event calendar. Content outputs include the quarterly newsletter La Lettre 3AF, the technical publication Les Cahiers 3AF, COMAERO reports, annual reports, and regional Gazettes.

3AF's business model is membership-fee based, with individual tiers ranging from €15 (student) to €80 (active under 30 or retiree) to €160 (active over 30) and starting at €400 for benefactors. Collective/corporate memberships cover companies, schools, universities, and laboratories. A 2026 sponsorship program offers existing members a 50% discount on first-year fees for newly referred active members. The association is actively engaged with France's major aerospace institutions — partnerships include CNES, DGA, DGAC, Airbus, Safran, Dassault, Thales, ONERA, GIFAS, Arianespace, ENAC, ISAE-SUPAERO, MBDA, and Naval Group — and represents France in international bodies (ICAS, CEAS, IAF, IAA). The EOLIA educational wind tunnel network, deployed across 25 French educational establishments, provides downstream pipeline engagement. No revenue is disclosed, and the association does not have proprietary AI/technology products; its core functions are community orchestration, content publication, and event hosting.

Name

Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France

Legal name

Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France

Website

https://3af.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

3AF is a French non-profit professional association (loi 1901) serving the aerospace and astronautics community through technical commissions, 16+ regional groups, publications (La Lettre 3AF, Cahiers 3AF, COMAERO), and an event calendar, with members drawn from aerospace professionals, students, retirees, companies, and academic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Aerospace Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADANAB

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

SECONDARYBPADAAAJ

International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Multilateral & Intergovernmental Organizations

Keywords

• Aerospace professional association
• Aeronautics research network
• Astronautics industry membership
• Aerospace technical publications
• Aviation industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual members (students, retirees, active members) and collective memberships from companies, schools, universities, and laboratories. Fee structure ranges from €15 for students to €400+ for benefactors.
2. Sponsorship Program: Sponsorship program where existing members refer new active members, providing network growth with discounted first-year membership at €80 instead of €160.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (3AF) is a French non-profit professional association that provides tiered membership services to the aeronautics and astronautics community. Its core offerings include access to publications (La Lettre 3AF newsletter, Les Cahiers 3AF technical papers, COMAERO reports, annual reports, regional Gazettes), specialized Technical Commissions and Regional Groups, an online member directory, and a calendar of conferences, workshops, and symposia. The association also operates the EOLIA educational wind tunnel network spanning 25 educational establishments across France.

Product overview

Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (3AF) is a professional association for the aeronautics and astronautics community in France, not a product company. The organization offers a portfolio of membership services including publications (La Lettre 3AF newsletter, Les Cahiers 3AF technical papers, COMAERO, annual reports, and regional Gazettes), access to technical commissions and regional groups, an online member directory, and an event calendar. The association organizes conferences, workshops, and symposia, and maintains a sponsorship program for member recruitment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• La Lettre 3AF Quarterly newsletter featuring articles on aeronautics and astronautics topics, industry news, and member contributions; available to all 3AF members.
• Les Cahiers 3AF Technical publications and research papers produced by the association's technical commissions for members and the wider aerospace community.
• COMAERO Aerospace publication by the association covering topics within aeronautics and astronautics, available to members.
• Rapports Annuels 3AF Annual reports documenting the association's activities, governance, and financial statements, published for members and the public.
• Les Gazettes (Regional Newsletters) Regional newsletters including La Gazette (GR Ile-De-France), La Gazette (GR Midi-Pyrénées), and L'Aquitain (GR Aquitaine) published by individual regional groups.
• Technical Commissions Expert working groups covering specialized aeronautics and astronautics topics including aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, helicopters, drones, materials, and space transportation; available to members.
• Regional Groups Geographic chapters including Aquitaine, Bretagne-Pays de Loire, Ile-de-France, Midi-Pyrénées, Occitanie, Poitou, Provence, Rhône-Alpes, and others that organize local events and activities for members.
• Online Member Directory Searchable directory of all members and partners allowing network development and professional connections within the aerospace industry; available to members.
• Event Calendar and Conferences Comprehensive calendar of conferences, workshops, colloquia, and symposia organized by 3AF and its partners, including the biennial ICAS Congress, with both online and in-person attendance options.
• Sponsorship Program Membership program allowing existing members to sponsor new active members with a 50% discount on first-year membership fees (€80 instead of €160); sponsors can refer up to 5 new members per year.
• EOLIA Educational Wind Tunnel Network Network of educational wind tunnels distributed across 25 educational establishments (colleges, high schools, IUTs, and engineering schools) in France for aerodynamics teaching and outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• EOLIA wind tunnel network present in 25 educational establishments across France
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Space Agency partner - CNES is listed as a partner organization, suggesting collaboration on space-related activities and representation.
• DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench defense procurement agency partner - DGA is listed as a partner, indicating collaboration on defense aerospace matters.
• DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Civil Aviation Authority partner - DGAC is listed as a partner organization.
• AirbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aerospace manufacturer listed as a partner of 3AF.
• Safran GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aerospace engine manufacturer listed as a partner of 3AF.
• Dassault AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French aircraft manufacturer listed as a partner of 3AF.
• ThalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aerospace and defense electronics company listed as a partner.
• ONERA (Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench aerospace research laboratory listed as a partner - major research institution in aerospace.
• GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench aerospace industries association - GIFAS is listed as a partner organization.
• ArianespacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunch services company listed as a partner.
• ENAC (École Nationale de l'Aviation Civile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench civil aviation school listed as a partner.
• ISAE-SUPAEROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading French aerospace engineering school listed as a partner.
• ESTACAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench engineering school specialized in aerospace listed as a partner.
• AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner - AIAA is listed as an international partner organization.
• IAF (International Astronautical Federation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner - IAF is listed as an international partner organization.
• CEAS (Council of European Aerospace Societies)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partner - CEAS is listed as a partner organization representing European aerospace societies.
• Airbus HelicopterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor helicopter manufacturer listed as a partner.
• Safran Helicopter EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor helicopter engine manufacturer listed as a partner.
• Naval GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaval defense group listed as a partner.
• MBDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissile systems company listed as a partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICAS – International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences: ICAS is the international body that organizes the biennial ICAS Congress, which 3AF actively hosts and participates in. It is directly comparable as a peer convener of aeronautics researchers and is a partner organization of 3AF.
• CEAS – Council of European Aerospace Societies: CEAS is the umbrella organization of European national aerospace societies including 3AF. It is comparable as the coordinating forum for European aeronautics technical collaboration and a partner of 3AF in conferences and awards.
• IAF – International Astronautical Federation: IAF is the global federation of astronautics societies, hosting the annual IAC Congress. It is comparable as an international aerospace/astronautics professional body and a listed partner of 3AF.
• Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS): RAeS is the UK professional body for aerospace, offering membership grades, technical publications, conferences, and branches. It is directly comparable to 3AF in serving as a national professional association for aerospace engineers and researchers.
• AIAA – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: AIAA is the closest international counterpart to 3AF, a professional association serving the aeronautics and astronautics community with technical committees, conferences (SciTech, Aviation), publications, and standards contributions. 3AF already lists AIAA as a partner, confirming direct comparability in mission and member services.
• DGLR – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt: DGLR is the German aerospace society operating technical committees, publications, conferences, and student branches, and is a member of CEAS alongside 3AF. Its structure and mission mirror 3AF's at the national level in Germany.
• GIFAS – Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales: GIFAS is the French aerospace industries trade association representing Airbus, Safran, Dassault, Thales, MBDA and others. While focused on industry advocacy rather than individual professionals, it operates in the same French aerospace convening space as 3AF and is listed as a 3AF partner.

Broad incumbents

• SAE International: SAE International is a broader mobility/aerospace engineering professional organization with membership, standards development, conferences, and publications. Comparable to 3AF in serving aerospace engineers globally but with a much wider mobility remit.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): AIA is the US aerospace industry trade association advocating for manufacturers and suppliers. Comparable to GIFAS (and adjacent to 3AF) as a national industry convener, but focused on commercial/defense policy advocacy rather than individual professional membership.

Regional players

• ISAE-SUPAERO Alumni Association: ISAE-SUPAERO is a leading French aerospace engineering school whose alumni network operates within the same French aerospace professional community served by 3AF. It is comparable as a France-based aerospace talent network that competes for engagement from the same members.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@3af-idf
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association3af

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France