In 1937, when Dr. Allard obtained with the highest marks his Diploma in Medicine from the Free University of Brussels, no one could anticipate his future devotion to Aerospace Medicine. His University studies qualified him to be a surgeon, and in fact, from 1938 until 1946 he was a residing surgeon at the Brussels University Hospital.

However, while still a mere medical student, he already showed a special interest in Aviation and in 1935, and flew for the first time aboard a Renard 34.

But it was not until 1946 that Civil Aviation actually called on him. It was at the time when the pilots of the Royal Air Force Belgian section were dismissed, and President Périer charged him with the development and direction of the Medical Service of Sabena, which was undergoing a period of great expansion. While carrying out that assignment, Dr. Allard fully complied with his President’s instructions, “Excellence must be the keyword for an Airline Medical Service”.

From that moment on, he became acquainted with Aerospace Medicine problems through the Royal Air Force medical publications, mainly after reading the l944 edition of Harry Armstrong’s book.

He developed an interest in the studies of Aeronautical Physiology and the application of preventive care, already used in Military Aviation, to Civil Commercial Aviation.

Each year , he would attend, in the USA, the annual convention of their society, at that moment called AeroMedical Association, and this convinced him that a similar association must exist in Europe. Thus, he became co-founder of the French Branch of the AeroMedical Association that met for the first time in Paris in 1952, and again in Brussels the following year with Dr. Allard as Secretary General.

Other meetings followed each year - Zurich in 1954, Paris again in 1955, Scheveningen in 1956, Stockholm in 1957, but it was not until 1958 that Dr. Allard, then the Secretary General, became the driving force that organized in Louwain (Belgium), the First World Congress of Aviation Medicine, attended by His Majesty King Baudouin.

Even though he had only joined the Academy in 1958, the prestige he earned with the success of this 1 st World Congress, led the Academy Council to invite him already as Secretary General in 1959.

From that date on, Dr. Allard’s international fame never ceased to grow. His prestige and the name of the Academy developed together. The Academy Congresses were then held not only in Europe but also in other regions, starting in Israel in 1971, and Lebanon in 1974.

His intelligence, leadership ability, common sense and communication skills won him friends in many countries, and he played a major role in extending the activities of the Academy to every Continent. The Membership included 36 countries, and the Academy was recognized by every national Aviation Medical Society, and began receiving requests for sponsorship of the International Congresses, which were then held every year, alternatively in Europe and outside Europe.

During his eleven years as Secretary General, and even later, Dr. Allard was the spirit of those Congresses where he would regularly submit the clinical data of his service.

Beyond his excellent medical qualifications and thorough knowledge in the field of Aerospace Medicine, Dr. Allard was a man of extensive learning, and his presence was very much in demand. On the Belgian TV he was the regular commentator for the American and Soviet Programs, and this made him very popular in his country.

In spite of all the respect bestowed upon him by everyone that knew him, Dr. Allard was always modest, informal and discreet.

The Service of his Country, his Company and the Academy were like a mission to him, and he would never profit from his international prestige to his personal advantage. Nor would he ever accept that his functions as Secretary General be remunerated in any form whatsoever.

Dr. Allard was always available for cooperation with less experienced colleagues and, mainly in Europe, he became the favorite adviser of airline doctors. He loved to help them, namely the youngest. He was generous, but discreet and easy to approach.

Both as Member and President of IATA Medical Committee, since its creation after World War II, he participated in the preparing of the text and the publication of the first Medical Manual that laid down the principles required for the structures, procedures and equipment of airline Medical Departments, including rules for the flying Personnel selection and survey.

I replaced him there in 1969, and I carry today the then IATA tie that was his, which he kindly offered to me.

But he was a really hard worker and his devotion to Aviation Medicine made him create in the late fifties, the European Airlines Medical Directors Association, where he played his favorite role of pedagogue and coordinator.

It pleased him to be part of a team.

In 1970 he chaired for the last time the meeting of that Society.

André Allard’s achievements remind me of Antoine Saint Exupéry’s words in his book “Night Flight” when describing the difficulties of his task, having nothing to depend on but his own will:

André Allard was the “moving force” that created the solutions for the improvement of Aerospace Medicine and for the activities of the Academy.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what I can tell you in a few minutes about the remarkable personality of Dr. Allard who died an untimely death in 1978, when he could still teach us so much.