The history of BNAE

The Bureau de Standardisation de l'Aéronautique et de l'espace (abbreviated "BNAE") is a non-profit organization under the French law of 1901. Founded in 1941, the BNAE acts under delegation from the French Standardization Association (abbreviated Afnor or AFNOR). It participates in the development of European and international technical standards in the aeronautics and space sectors. The BNAE aims to promote and protect French interests in the aeronautics and space sectors at the European and international levels.

The history of BNAE

October 2023

The ADSS (Aerospace Digital Standards Services) subsidiary is officially created.

1941

Creation of the Aeronautics Standardization Bureau (BNAé)

24 june 1963

The BNAé became a non-profit association under the 1901 law. Its activities now extended to the space sector. The association then took the name Bureau de Normalisation de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (BNAE).

2 april 1968

The BNAE is recognized as a public utility establishment

24 september 1984

In accordance with the provisions of Article 8 of the decree of January 26, 1984, the BNAE is approved as a standards office by decision of the Minister responsible for industry, defense and transport.

14 may 2004

BNAE obtains its first ISO 9001 certification for its quality management system.

10 february 2011

The BNAE receives its approval validating its compliance with the requirements of standard NF X 50-088 and the new decree on standardization of June 2009.

In 1877, the French authorities decided to found the Etablissement Central de l'Aérostation Militaire de Chalais-Meudon, the world's first aeronautical laboratory. The establishment was headed by the young 30-year-old Captain Charles Renard. The laboratory's mission was to design all French military aerostatic equipment from components produced by industry, and to train men in its use. With orders soaring, Captain Renard was faced with supply problems as early as 1879. He limited the choice of ropes and lines needed to hold the balloons and attach them to the basket, and defined their dimensions based on basic values and a series of numbers known as the “Renard series”. The Renard series, which has since been used in many sectors to determine the successive dimensions of unified objects, represents the first standardization work in the aeronautical field.

Until 1939-40, the standardization of equipment and products intended for civil and military aeronautics was carried out by the Services Techniques de l'Aéronautique (STAé) within the framework of the Ministry of Air's own regulations. The administration took the initiative in drawing up standards, and the industry was consulted, but the approval of standards and their application were of an authoritarian, regulatory nature.

In 1941, the Bureau de Normalisation de l'Aéronautique (BNAé) was set up under the aegis of the French Ministry, the Commissariat à la Normalisation and the Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR). The BNAé received successive support from various aeronautical organizations. In June 1963, at the joint initiative of the aviation industry and the Aeronautical Technical and Industrial Department, the association was created under its current non-profit status, declared under the French Law of 1901: Bureau de Normalisation de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (BNAE). In 1968, after submission of the required file to the Conseil d'Etat, and with the support of the supervisory authorities, the Association was recognized as a public utility. By decision of September 24 1984, the Ministers of Defense, Transport and Industry approved BNAE as a standardization office, in accordance with the provisions of article 8 of decree no. 84-74 of January 26 1984. Its remit is standardization in the field of aeronautical and space design and construction.

First BNAé logo

First BNAé logo

First BNAé's logo in early 40s.

Logo 1990

Logo 1990

BNAE's logo in 90s.

Logo from 2000 to 2009

Logo from 2000 to 2009

Logo used between 2000 and 2009.

Logo from 2010 to 2022

Logo from 2010 to 2022

BNAE's logo created in 2010.

Current logo

Current logo

Logo created in 2023 and currently in use.