Service d'exploitation de la formation aéronautique

The **Service d'exploitation de la formation aéronautique** (**SEFA**) was the French national flight school, in nine places in France and managed by the _direction générale de l'aviation civile_ (DGAC). It merged with French Civil Aviation University the 1st of January 2011.

### 1936 - 1946

SEFA is a direct descendant of a long tradition of state involvement in helping to light aviation. By 1936, the Popular Front creates the "_sections d’aviation populaire_" (SAP), in order to democratize the flight training for young people and then to train more crew for the French military aviation. In 1946, the "_service de l’aviation légère et sportive_" (SALS) is created, which purpose is essentially to provide available aircraft and instructors for flying clubs.

### 1946 - 1976

In 1955, SALS becomes the "_service de la formation aéronautique et des sports aériens_" (SFASA), in 1959 the "_service de la formation aéronautique, du travail aérien et des transports_" (SFATAT), in 1964 it is renamed the "_service de la formation aéronautique_" (SFA) and finally the "_service de la formation aéronautique et du contrôle technique_" (SFACT) in 1976. These designations reflect the successive changes in the organization of the civil aviation administration, but also the direct involvement of the State, in flight training. Thus "national centers" will be created, in 1945, for the gliding activities (Challes-les-Eaux, Beynes, Pont-Saint-Vincent, etc.), and then for the flight in piston aircraft (Carcassonne in 1945, Saint-Yan in 1947), and even skydiving (Biscarosse in 1953).

### 1976 - 1996

Over the years, the French civil aviation administration gradually withdraw from its activities in the field of gliding and skydiving.
In 1959, the center of Saint-Yan welcomes the first course of airline pilot students (EPL, _Elève Pilote de ligne_, in English airline pilot student), ushering in a new mission of the SEFA : the training of airline pilots. The national centers were attached to the service of the civil aviation administration in charge of training. The creation of a single management structure was needed.
Thus was created the SEFA in 1993, bringing together under one organization all the necessary needs to implement the tasks entrusted by the DGAC. The direction of the SEFA moved to Muret in 1996, bringing together all central services previously scattered between Saint-Cyr-l'École and Paris.

### 1996 - 2011

Finally, on the 1st of January 2011, the SEFA is merged with the French Civil Aviation University in order to create the biggest European aviation school. All the SEFA activities are now providing under the only acronym ENAC.

## Bibliography

- Ariane Gilotte, Jean-Philippe Husson and Cyril Lazerge, _50 ans d'Énac au service de l'aviation_, Édition S.E.E.P.P, 1999

## Other websites

- Official

## Infobox (university)

- **name**: ****
- **mottoeng**: Professionalism & Excellence
- **type**: Flight school
- **city**: Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, Carcassonne, Castelnaudary, Muret, Montpellier, Grenoble, Biscarosse, Saint-Yan and Melun
- **country**: France
- **nickname**: SEFA
- **affiliations**: International association of aviation personnel schools, IAAPS