With the introduction of the new Statutes and Bylaws, EUROAVIA showed a strong and unified image in Europe, being considered the top association for aerospace youth activities by winning awards like the “European Space Trophy”. Today’s EUROAVIA was shaped during the decade of the 1990s, which served as a period of strengthening and restructuring of the association.
At the beginning of the decade, a new project was proposed, the Design Workshop. Historically, this has been one of the most important and impactful events organised by our Association. The event involved around twenty-five students participating in seminars focused on the design and manufacture of a satellite in collaboration with European aerospace companies, such as the European Space Agency (ESA). The first edition took place in 1991 and was hosted by Dornier Aerospace.
Organisation-wise several changes were introduced. First of all, the Central Committee (C.C.) became the International Board (IB) and the roles of President, Secretary and Treasurer were defined; two congresses were organised per year, the Electoral Meeting of the EUROAVIA Congress (EMEAC) and the Annual Meeting of the EUROAVIA Congress (AMEAC), the first was focused on the election of the IB for the following Business Year. The foundation of the creation of an association of former EUROAVIA members was set, first with the Former Members Association (FMA) which was a failure, and later with the EUROAVIA Alumni, which still exists. And, last but not least, in 1997 it was decided to register EUROAVIA as a European association to strengthen relations with Aerospace companies and get support from the European Union.
But the decade of the 90s was not always great, the EMEAC of 1996 in Munich proved that having a continuity was difficult when dealing with students. During this congress, no Designated International Board (DIB) was elected due to the low motivation of the members. This forced the IB to organize the Extra Meeting of the EUROAVIA Congress (ExMEAC) to form a new DIB before the AMEAC.
By the end of the decade, the Formation Project was established with the intention to improve the transferring of knowledge among the members of EUROAVIA, especially between Local Boards and the International Board. It was crucial to maintain EUROAVIA’s goal over time.
There was also an expansion to new Local Chapters: From Milan we fostered both Pisa and Neaples new Local Groups, and several new groups were created within the Former Soviet Block. It may sounds natural now, but back then having the possibility to meet students from East Germany, Romania, Polland and call them friends was quite unique. We discovered first hand the life beyond the Courtain, from their stories. The foundation Congress held in Berlin in May 1990 was the first after the fall of the Berlin Wall, whose debries were still laying on the ground when we toured the city. We also witnessed and celebrated the birth of a single border Europe with a New Year celebration in Maastricht on 1992 Eve.
Euroavia contributed to European integration with its fly-ins and congress since day 1.