University of Civil Aviation :: History Of The University

History Of The University

The University traces its ancestry back to the first educational establishment for transport in Russia, The Institute of Railway Engineers in St. Petersburg, where classes in aeronavigation were instituted on professor N. A. Rynin's initiative in 1907.

The Department of Air Communications, opened here in 1920, served as a base for the foundation of the first higher educational establishment for civil aviation in 1930, namely the Leningrad Institute for Engineers of Civil Air Fleet (LIE CAF).

In March 1941 the LIE CAF was reorganized into the Air Force Academy, which assumed before long a military-space profile in the mid-sixties.

The idea of establishing an academy within the separate realm of civil aviation was revived in the post-war years by graduates and former teachers of the LIE CAF. At 48 Liteiny Av. the Advanced Courses for the Highest and Senior Executive Officers of Civil Air Fleet (ACEO CAF) were launched in 1951 in parallel with the two-year Leningrad Party School of the CAF Political Administration.

In the summer of 1955, the ACEO CAF was reorganized into the Higher Aviation College (HAC CAF) by decree of the USSR government.

There were three events of importance that distinguished the year 1971: the HAC CAF was awarded the Order of Lenin - the highest governmental award of that time; the College was reorganized into the Academy and moved from 48 Liteiny Av. into the new buildings of Aviagorodok (Aviation Town).

The major milestones in the University 's development can be seen in the museum.