German Aerospace Industries Association

The German Aerospace Industries Association, known by its German initials BDLI, is the principal trade association for Germany’s aerospace sector. It represents companies and institutions active across civil aviation, military aviation, defence and security, space systems, aircraft equipment, components and related industrial services. The association is organized as a registered association headquartered in Berlin and acts as an industry representative in dealings with the German government, parliament, European institutions and other stakeholders. BDLI’s modern role combines policy advocacy, industry coordination, public communication and the promotion of Germany as an aerospace location. Its membership structure includes forums and specialist committees, allowing companies of different sizes and technical specializations to participate. German aerospace manufacturers, suppliers and equipment companies can join as ordinary members, while other eligible legal entities and individuals may participate as supporting members through regular contributions. This structure gives the association a platform spanning major original-equipment manufacturers, established systems companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, research-linked organizations and specialized suppliers. The association’s work is divided into three principal specialist areas: Aviation; Defence & Security; and Space. Through these departments, BDLI addresses subjects such as industrial competitiveness, research and development, export conditions, procurement, sustainability, decarbonization, regulation, skilled labour, supply-chain resilience and the strategic importance of aerospace capabilities. It also communicates the economic and technological contribution of the sector to policymakers and the wider public. BDLI is accredited to the German Bundestag and is registered in Germany’s federal lobbying register. It is a member of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), linking German industry representation with broader German and European business networks. It also cooperates with counterpart organizations in other countries, including France’s GIFAS. A major public-facing activity associated with BDLI is the ILA Berlin air show, whose trademark is owned by the association. The event is held biennially with Messe Berlin as a partner and provides a platform for displaying aircraft, defence systems, space technologies, research projects and aerospace innovation. BDLI also supports public understanding of the sector through the annual Medienpreis Luft- und Raumfahrt, which recognizes journalism that explains aerospace topics to non-specialist audiences in print, radio, television and online formats. Special recognition is also given to local and regional journalism and to emerging authors under 30. The association traces its institutional history to 17 March 1911, when German aircraft manufacturers founded the Verein Deutscher Flugzeugindustrieller. It went through several reorganizations and name changes during the interwar period, the National Socialist era and the postwar reconstruction of the German aviation industry. After the Federal Republic regained sovereignty over its airspace in 1955, the organization was transformed into the Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie, the institutional predecessor of today’s BDLI. Its long history reflects the changing structure of German aerospace, from early aircraft manufacturing to an integrated industry covering aviation, defence, security and space.

The institutional history of the German Aerospace Industries Association begins on 17 March 1911, when the Verein Deutscher Flugzeugindustrieller was established by a group of German aircraft manufacturers. The founding companies included Albatros Flugzeugwerke, Aviatik, Dorner Flugzeuge, Flugmaschine Wright-Gesellschaft, Euler-Flugmaschinenwerke, Grade-Fliegerwerke, Harlan-Flugzeugwerke and Rumpler-Flugzeugwerke. The organization was created to coordinate the interests of a developing aircraft-manufacturing sector and to provide a collective industry voice. From 1917, the association participated in the Kriegsverband der Flugzeugindustrie, an initiative connected with the military aviation inspection authority. The wartime organization brought together a large industrial base, illustrating the scale and strategic importance that aircraft production had acquired during the First World War. After the war, the association underwent repeated structural changes. In 1921 it merged with the Verein Deutscher Motorfahrzeug-Industrieller to form the Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeug-Industrieller. That entity was liquidated on 17 September 1923 and re-established on 30 October of the same year as the Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeughersteller. Further reorganization followed in 1927, when the association was dissolved and re-established as the Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrt-Industrie. The organization was later reconstituted after Luft-Hansa withdrew in 1929. During the National Socialist period, the association was incorporated into the state-directed economic structure as an independent economic group. This phase formed part of the broader political and industrial control of aviation under the regime and remains an important context in the organization’s institutional history. Following the Second World War, the association was renamed Verband der Deutschen Luftfahrt in 1951. In 1952 it adopted the name Verband zur Förderung der Luftfahrt. The legal and political environment for German aviation changed substantially in the following years. When the Federal Republic of Germany regained sovereignty and control of its airspace in 1955, the organization was transformed into the Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie. This postwar body became the predecessor of the contemporary BDLI. Over subsequent decades, the association developed from a body focused primarily on aircraft manufacturing into a broader representative organization for aviation, defence, security and space. Its internal structure evolved around forums and specialist committees, enabling members to address technical, regulatory and industrial issues collectively. The head office is organized into three main departments covering Aviation, Defence & Security, and Space. BDLI’s contemporary activities include representing German aerospace companies before policymakers, supporting sector-wide dialogue, communicating the industry’s economic and technological importance, and contributing to European and international industry coordination. It is accredited to the German Bundestag and appears in the federal lobbying register. The association belongs to the Federation of German Industries and to ASD, the European umbrella organization for aerospace and defence industries. It also maintains relationships with national counterpart bodies such as France’s GIFAS. The association has an important role in public-facing aerospace events. It owns the trademark of ILA Berlin, a biennial air show organized with Messe Berlin as a partner. The event presents civil and military aviation, space, defence and related technologies. BDLI also promotes public understanding through the annual Medienpreis Luft- und Raumfahrt, which recognizes journalism in print, radio, television and online media, with additional recognition for local or regional newspapers and authors under 30. Today, BDLI remains an active Berlin-based industry association representing the interests of Germany’s aerospace ecosystem.

• 2024

  Marie-Christine von Hahn begins term as principal managing director

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  Marie-Christine von Hahn has served as the association’s principal managing director since 2024.

• 1955

  Transformed into the postwar national aerospace association

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  Following the Federal Republic’s recovery of airspace sovereignty, the organization became the Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie.

• 1951

  Renamed Verband der Deutschen Luftfahrt

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  The postwar organization adopted a new name during the reconstruction of German aviation institutions.

• 1927

  Reorganized as Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrt-Industrie

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  The association underwent another dissolution and re-establishment under the Reichsverband name.

• 1923

  Re-established as Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeughersteller

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  After liquidation in September, the organization was re-established under a new name in October.

• 1921

  Merged into Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeug-Industrieller

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  The aircraft-industry association merged with the Verein Deutscher Motorfahrzeug-Industrieller.

• 1917

  Joined wartime aircraft-industry association

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became part of the Kriegsverband der Flugzeugindustrie, a wartime industrial coordination initiative.

• 1911

  Verein Deutscher Flugzeugindustrieller founded

  [1]Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org

  German aircraft manufacturers established the association that forms the earliest institutional predecessor of BDLI.

A national industry association and policy advocate for Germany’s aviation, defence, security and space sectors, connecting companies and institutions with government, European trade bodies, the media and the public.

• Professional association service

  Industry advocacy and representation

  BDLI represents German aerospace companies and institutions in policy discussions with the German Bundestag, government bodies, European institutions and industry organizations. Its advocacy covers aviation, defence, security and space, including competitiveness, procurement, regulation, research, sustainability and industrial policy.

• Industry coordination

  Specialist forums and committees

  The association organizes its membership through forums and specialist committees. These structures allow companies and institutions to coordinate around technical, regulatory and business issues affecting aviation, defence and security, and space activities.

• Trade show

  ILA Berlin

  ILA Berlin is a biennial aerospace exhibition whose trademark is owned by BDLI. Organized with Messe Berlin as a partner, it provides a public and business platform for civil aviation, defence, security, space technology and aerospace innovation.

• Journalism award

  Medienpreis Luft- und Raumfahrt

  This annual award recognizes journalists who make aerospace subjects accessible to non-specialist audiences. Categories include print, radio, television and online journalism, with additional recognition for local or regional newspapers and authors under 30.

• ILA Berlin

  Germany · International

  BDLI owns the trademark for the biennial ILA Berlin air show and works with Messe Berlin to provide a major exhibition platform for aerospace, defence, security and space technologies.

  Source
• Medienpreis Luft- und Raumfahrt

  Germany

  BDLI’s annual journalism award encourages clear public communication about aerospace through print, radio, television and online reporting.

  Source

1. 1Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrieen.wikipedia.org
2. 2German Aerospace Industries Associationbdli.de