This project began in November 2018, when a group of archivists and others interested in the preservation of and access to Britain's archival records relating to the history of flight and the industry and technology around it, met at the Leonardo works, Yeovil.
The AAAI seeks to ensure that archives of aviation and aerospace in the United Kingdom are collected and preserved, made accessible, and their use facilitated. To this end it aims to:
- Connect individuals and institutions with interests in aviation and aerospace archives, providing opportunities for mutual support and a forum for advice and knowledge sharing.
- Offer sound and comprehensible guidance on the good curation of archives, records and related material, including ensuring their accessibility.
- Disseminate intelligence about the nature, extent and location of relevant collections, including those at risk, through information gathering and surveying work.
- Promote aviation and aerospace archives and heritage to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- To achieve these aims, we will work with individuals (both professionals and volunteers), organisations and networks within the aviation heritage, archives, academic and other sectors, and will seek opportunities to initiate and support appropriate events and projects.
Participants and supporters
The Aviation and Aerospace Archives Initiative has been led by The National Archives and the National Aerospace Library/Royal Aeronautical Society.
Other participants to date include representatives of Aerospace Bristol, the Air Britain Trust, Aviation Heritage UK, BAE Systems, Brooklands Museum, the Business Archives Council, Leonardo, the RAF Museum and the Rochester Avionics Archive.
What is an archive?
For the purpose of this initiative, an Archive can be defined as a collection of documents which have been selected for permanent preservation because of their value as evidence or as a source for historical or other research. Such records are created by the activities of organisations and people; they serve an active purpose while in current use and some of them are later selected and preserved as part of an archival collection. Archives can be in physical formats such as volumes, letters, notes, plans and photographs, or can exist purely in a digital form. Archives are usually unique and irreplaceable, so can include short-run printed material such as posters, leaflets, reports and ephemera, but not widely published material such as books, journals, newspapers and magazines. Archives do not normally include objects.
Are you seeking a home for a collection of aviation archives?
Perhaps you are looking for a long-term home for a collection you have created over the years or clearing out the house of a deceased loved-one. We are in contact with a wide range of collecting organisations that may be able to help. If the records relate to specific companies, please search the surveys on this website which will list organisations that hold related material. You can then click on the links to find their contact details. If the records relate to a specific location in the UK, the Find an Archive directory can help to identify collecting organisations in that area. Alternatively, contact us for advice, using the link at the bottom of this page.