History
Narrative Summary
A national flying school organisation was first established in 1946 under the name Service de l’Aviation Légère et Sportive (SALS). It reported to the French Civil Aviation Authority, which was then called the Secrétariat général à l’Aviation civile et commerciale (SGACC). At first the organisation included glider pilot training and skydiving, but as the French economy revived after WW2 these activities were left to private clubs. SALS went through a whole series of name changes until 1993 when it finally settled on the title Service d’Exploitation de la Formation Aéronautique (SEFA). In January 2011 SEFA was merged into the École nationale de l’aviation civile (ENAC), a French university that specialises in training people for the aviation industry. It thus ceased to exist.
Key Dates
| 1946 | Service de l’Aviation Légère et Sportive (SALS) first established. | |
| 1955 | SALS becomes the Service de la Formation Aéronautique et des Sports Aériens (SFASA). | |
| 1959 | SFASA renamed Service de la Formation Aéronautique, du Travail Aérien et des Transports (SFATAT). | |
| 1964 | SFATAT renamed Service de la Formation Aéronautique (SFA). | |
| 1976 | SFA renamed Service de la Formation Aéronautique et du Contrôle Technique (SFACT). | |
| 1993 | SFACT renamed Service d’Exploitation de la Formation Aéronautique (SEFA). | |
| 1 Janaury 2011 | SEFA merged with ENAC. |
Current Status
The SEFA was merged with ENAC in January 2011 and no longer exists as a separate entity.
Future Plans
Not applicable.
Markings
Special Markings
SEFA aircraft operate in an overall white colour scheme with a medium blue fuselage cheatline and areas of high-visibility orange on the nose, tail, wingtips and belly. The DGAC blue bird logo normally appears on the fin. The DGAC logo is carried just forward of the cockpit, with small service titles DIRECTION GENERAL DE L’AVIATION CIVILE.
Aircraft Serial Numbers
SEFA aircraft carried French civil registrations, e.g. TB.10 Tobago F-GJXV.
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
None – Manufacturers designations used
Current Aircraft Inventory
Not applicable.
All-Time Aircraft Used List
| Aircraft Type | Quantity | Service Entry | Out of Service | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beech 58 Baron | ? | ?? | ?? | USA |
| Cessna 310 | ? | ?? | ?? | USA |
| Diamond DA-42 Twin Star | ? | ?? | 2010 | Austria |
| Diamond DA-40 Diamond Star | ? | ?? | 2010 | Austria |
| Jodel D-140R | ? | ?? | ?? | France |
| Mudry CAP-10 | ? | ?? | ?? | France |
| Robin R-2160 | ? | ?? | ?? | France |
| SOCATA TB.10 Tobago | ? | ?? | 2010 | France |
| SOCATA TB.20 Trinidad | 4? | ?? | 2010 | France |
| Beech Super King Air 200GT | ? | ?? | 2010 | USA |
| Stampe SV-4C | ? | ?? | ?? | France |
(Additional information is welcome).
Aircraft NOT Used
No false reports known.
Organisation
Main Headquarters
SEFA, rue de l’Aviation, BP 30080. Muret Cedex 31603. France.
Organisational Structure
Aircraft and gliders were operated by individual flight training sections around the country.
Current Unit Assignments
Not applicable
Historical Unit Assignments
To be added.
All-Time Flying Units List
Beynes (gliding)
Biscarosse.
Challes-les-Eaux (gliding)
Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
Carcassonne
Castelnaudary
Grenoble
Melun
Montpelier
Muret
Pont-Saint-Vincent (gliding)
Saint-Yan
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
Not applicable.
All-Time Air Bases Used List
The SEFA had bases for gliding (Challes-les-Eaux, Beynes, Pont-Saint-Vincent, etc.), powered flight (Carcassonne in 1945, Saint-Yan in 1947), and skydiving (Biscarosse in 1953). Bases in 2010 were: Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, Carcassonne, Castelnaudary, Muret, Montpellier, Grenoble, Biscarosse, Saint-Yan and Melun, France.
More Information
Books
French Aviation Bibliography – to be added
Magazines
No feature articles known.
Websites