Certificat d'aptitude à l'enseignement aéronautique
French teaching certificate for aeronautics, not a pilot licence.
The Certificat d'aptitude à l'enseignement aéronautique (CAEA) is a French national diploma established in 1999. It is jointly issued by the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing. This credential is not a pilot license; rather, it marks the completion of aeronautical studies for students, teachers, or professors who wish to teach aeronautics at the high school or university level. The French National Education system requires this diploma for anyone supervising aviation activities at a school or university. It is also mandatory for teaching the Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique (aeronautical initiation certificate). The CAEA is equivalent to two years of study after the French Baccalaureate. The examination consists of five subjects: principles of flight and aerodynamics, general aircraft knowledge, meteorology, navigation and flight safety, and air and space history. The test lasts three hours. To pass, candidates must achieve a total score of at least 10 out of 20, with no individual topic grade falling below 6 out of 20. Flight Instructors can get the CAEA by equivalence, with only an additional training.
- Created
- 1999
- Delivered by
- French Ministry of National Education and Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing
- Required for
- supervision of aviation activities at school or university in France; teaching the Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique
- Study duration
- two-years studies after French Baccalaureate
- Exam subjects
- principle of flight and aerodynamic, aircraft general knowledge, meteorology, navigation and safety of flights, air and space History
- Exam duration
- three hours
- Pass requirements
- result of 10/20 and no grade below 6/20 in one of the five topics
Lore & Background
The CAEA was created in 1999 as a French national degree. It is delivered jointly by the French Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing. Although it covers a wide field of aeronautics and space knowledge, it is explicitly not a pilot licence or certification. The diploma is required by the National Education for all supervision of aviation activities at school or university in France, and it is also a must to teach the Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique (aeronautical initiation certificate). The CAEA corresponds to a degree of two-years studies after the French Baccalaureate.
Reader's Guide
The CAEA holds significance as the mandatory qualification for teaching aeronautics and supervising aviation activities within French schools and universities. According to the article, it is required by the National Education for all such supervision, and it is a prerequisite for teaching the Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique. The exam consists of five subjects—principle of flight and aerodynamic, aircraft general knowledge, meteorology, navigation and safety of flights, and air and space History—with a three-hour duration. Candidates must achieve a result of 10/20 overall with no grade below 6/20 in any single topic. Flight Instructors can obtain the CAEA by equivalence, requiring only an additional training. Its legacy is as a specialized teaching credential distinct from pilot licensing, ensuring that educators in aeronautics meet a standardized national curriculum.
Did You Know?
- The CAEA is not a pilot licence or certification, but a teaching degree.
- The exam has five subjects and lasts three hours, requiring a score of 10/20 with no topic below 6/20.
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