ENAC is designated a "Grande école" by the "Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE)", a non-profit organisation which certifies and monitors these "Grandes écoles" (colleges of engineering in France). ENAC was founded on 28 August 1949 to provide initial and continuing education in the field of civil aviation. This university is a "établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel" (French public scientific, cultural or professional establishment) and operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing. It is also member of the following apart from "Conférence des Grandes Écoles", University of Toulouse, Aerospace Valley and is one of the five founders of France AEROTECH.