The origin of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute dates back to 1954, when the Montreal-based Institute of Aircraft Technicians, the Ottawa Aeronautical Society and the Canadian sections of the U.S. Institute of Aeronautical Sciences amalgamated to form the Canadian Aeronautical Institute (CAI). In 1962 the Canadian Astronautical Society in Toronto and the Montreal-based Astronautical Society of Canada merged with the CAI to become the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI).
CASI is a not-for-profit scientific and technical organisation devoted to the advancement of the art, science engineering and applications relating to aeronautics, astronautics, and associated technologies and their applications. The Institute consists of Branches across Canada and specialist Sections that cater to specific areas.
The Institute is governed by a Council. Each Branch elects one of its members to serve on the Council. Specialist Sections are represented on the Council by their Chairs. The Council itself elects, as Councillors, a predetermined number of senior members from the membership at large. The Councillors elect a President from among themselves.
