The EUROAVIA Spirit
EUROAVIA is the European Association of Aerospace Students, representing the interests of over 2000 students from 43 universities in 18 countries. EUROAVIA was founded in 1959 and aims to create a bridge between companies, universities and students.
EUROAVIA strives to:
- Promote European co-operation in aerospace by providing opportunities for our members to meet, exchange and learn at all levels
- International representation of European aerospace students
- To familiarise student members with their future working environment and to promote industry contacts
EUROAVIA works to develop current and future leaders who promote the ‘EUROAVIA Spirit’, a set of shared values based on hard work, innovation, cultural awareness, teamwork and international networking. The international character of the association is particularly evident at annual events such as the AMEAC.
The History of EUROAVIA Dresden:
AS Dresden: Soaring Beyond Boundaries in EUROAVIA History
EUROAVIA Dresden, a part of Dresden’s engineering excellence, boasts a rich and inspiring history that is deeply intertwined with the transformative events of late 20th-century Europe. Founded on May 5th, 1994, at the Technical University Dresden, its journey began amidst the geopolitical shifts following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marking a new era in global and European aerospace collaboration.
The Genesis in a Changing World (1990-2001)
The seeds of EUROAVIA Dresden were sown by proactive students from West Berlin’s Technical University, who reached out to their Eastern counterparts in 1990, just as Germany was on the cusp of reunification. This act of academic cooperation led to the formation of a provisional group in Dresden, with Torsten Balwinski as its inaugural president. The group swiftly gained recognition within the EUROAVIA community, notably being the first in the former Soviet Bloc, and evolved into an official nonprofit organization by 1994, with Michael Künzel as its first president.
In its nascent years, EUROAVIA Dresden faced significant challenges, especially following the integration of the University for Traffic and Transport Engineering into the Technical University of Dresden in 1992, which resulted in the dissolution of the Institute for Aviation and Air Traffic. This led to a decline in academic support and membership. However, the Local Group demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. Revitalized in 2001 under the leadership of Wiebke Woitschach and Robert Krüger, and with the reassignment of the professorship for Technology and Logistics in Air Traffic to Prof. Dr. Hartmut Fricke, EUROAVIA Dresden found new vigor and direction.
Revival and Growth (2001-Present)
This revival marked a period of steady growth and increasing engagement with the broader EUROAVIA network. By the mid-2000s, the Society began to make its presence felt more significantly at International Events. The decade of the 2010s saw EUROAVIA Dresden maintain a stable membership count, hosting notable events such as Fly-Ins in 2016 and 2022 and organizing annual field trips to other Affiliated Societies.
The Society’s trajectory, however, was not without its setbacks. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 temporarily halted physical events and international gatherings. Despite these challenges, EUROAVIA Dresden adapted and thrived, benefiting from the shift of the Air Transport and Logistics Master program to English in 2023, which attracted a surge of active, international members.
Forging Ahead with Resilience and Vision
EUROAVIA Dresden’s story, from its beginnings in a newly unified Germany to its role today as an acknowledged Affiliated Society, is a testament to resilience and international cooperation. The group has navigated historical changes and technological advancements, maintaining a commitment to innovation and inclusivity. As EUROAVIA Dresden looks to the future, it stands as a symbol of collaboration and progress in the EUROAVIA community, exemplifying the transformative power of shared knowledge and passion in the face of global challenges.