After a significant decline in activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, EUROAVIA Leuven lost much of its presence among students and within the international community. The lack of engagement, particularly in aerospace-related events beyond the classroom, was felt deeply by students. This dissatisfaction inspired four motivated individuals to take action and breathe new life into the organisation. What followed was a year full of revitalisation, enthusiasm, and an ambitious calendar of events. Here’s an overview of our first year back in action.
The year kicked off with a bang as we hosted our first event: the Kick-off Quiz. With nearly 70 participants, this quiz set the tone for the high level of interest and engagement that would characterise the rest of the year. Following the quiz, we organised a gliding initiation session in collaboration with LUAC, a local gliding club. This event gave participants hands-on experience in aviation by flying a sailplane with an instructor.
We kept the momentum going with a lecture focused on Moon Missions, including a deep dive into NASA’s Artemis program and its ambitious goals for lunar exploration. This talk highlighted the future of human spaceflight and reignited students’ curiosity about space exploration.
As the first semester drew to an end, we organised a company visit to Safran, a renowned aerospace firm with global reach. Safran, along with General Electric, is part of the CFM International joint venture that manufactures the LEAP engines. During our visit to their facility in Brussels, we had the unique opportunity to witness firsthand the repair and maintenance of their latest LEAP engines, which power next-generation commercial aircraft. The visit not only provided insight into cutting-edge aerospace technology but also offered a rare glimpse into the industry’s operational side.
After the winter break, we resumed our activities with a visit to TUI in Brussels Airport, one of Europe’s leading airlines, providing our members with a behind-the-scenes look at the aviation industry. Shortly after, we hosted the “Space in Flanders” event in collaboration with the STAR research group of the KU Leuven, which turned out to be one of our most successful initiatives of the year. This event brought together experts from academia and industry to discuss the role of Flanders in the growing European space sector, sparking engaging discussions and networking opportunities for our members.
On the international front, our president and secretary represented EUROAVIA Leuven at two major events: the EUROAVIA Lustrum celebrating 65 years of the organization, and the EMEAC (EUROAVIA’s Midterm Meeting) congress in Istanbul during the Easter holidays. These international gatherings provided our leadership with invaluable insights into how EUROAVIA’s local groups across Europe operate and collaborate. Moreover, it offered a platform to strengthen our ties with the broader EUROAVIA network, sharing ideas and experiences that will help us grow in the years to come.
To wrap up a highly successful year, we hosted our Member Night, an informal yet significant event that brought together our community to celebrate the achievements of the past year and discuss plans for the future. It was a night filled with camaraderie, ideas, and a shared passion for aerospace.
Looking back, this first year of revival has been nothing short of transformative for EUROAVIA Leuven. We have successfully re-established ourselves as a hub for aerospace enthusiasts, not just at our university but within the wider community. The foundation we’ve laid this year will undoubtedly pave the way for even more ambitious events and projects in the future, as we continue to inspire and engage students with the world of aerospace.
AS Leuven