Aero Club of India

What Aero Club of India does

Aero Club of India (ACI) is the National Airsport Control (NAC) for India, recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) since 1950, and the apex regulatory and coordination body for all air sports in the country. Founded in the late 1920s as the Royal Aero Club of India and Burma Ltd and rebranded to its current name in 2014, ACI is headquartered at Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi, and operates as a non-profit Society registered in India. Its mandate covers ten air sports disciplines: General Aviation, Gliding, Skydiving, Paragliding & Hang Gliding, Ballooning, Microlight & Paramotors, Aeromodelling, Drones, Rotorcraft, and Amateur-Built Aircraft.

ACI's core offerings are governance, certification, and coordination services rather than commercial products. These include accreditation of air sports schools and training centres, FAI Sporting License processing, national record claims management, event sanctioning, and maintenance of national skydiving and microlight/paramotor databases. The organization also publishes Aero Adventure Magazine, India's only aero sports publication, available in English, Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu. ACI's strategic focus in 2025–2026 includes a landmark MoU with Sakthi Aircraft Industry and Diamond Aircraft (Austria) to domestically manufacture 200 Diamond DA40 NG trainer aircraft, projected to train 1,000 pilots annually and generate 250+ direct jobs.

ACI operates on a recurring annual membership subscription model, supplemented by event registration fees, accreditation/professional service fees, and FAI license processing. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging its official website, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, Flickr, YouTube), partnerships with the Economic Times and government bodies (e.g., Odisha), and participation in FAI championships. Leadership is led by President Rajiv Pratap Rudy (former Union Minister for Civil Aviation and sitting Member of Parliament) and Secretary General Group Captain Arvind Badoni (Retd.).

Name

Aero Club of India

Legal name

Aero Club of India

Website

https://aeroclubofindia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aero Club of India (ACI) is the National Airsport Control for India, recognized by the FAI since 1950. It accredits schools, processes FAI licenses, sanctions events, and coordinates all air sports — including gliding, skydiving, paragliding, drones, and pilot training — serving flying clubs, trainees, FTOs, and adventure tourism stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Sports Governance and Aviation Certification Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)

Keywords

• Air sports governance
• Aviation accreditation services
• Pilot training certification
• Aero sports membership
• FAI license processing

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: ACI generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions with non-refundable admission fees. Membership is structured as perpetually recurring annual subscriptions, providing access to club facilities, competitions, and networking opportunities.
2. Event Registration Fees: ACI charges fees for air sports events and competitions including the ET Infra Air Summit 2025 at ₹5000 per delegate.
3. Accreditation Services: ACI provides accreditation for schools and training centres in air sports disciplines, including paragliding, skydiving, and hang gliding schools.
4. FAI Sporting License Processing: ACI processes FAI Sporting License applications and maintains national repositories for skydiving and microlight/paramotor databases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aero Club of India (ACI) is India's National Airsport Control and the apex governing body for air sports, functioning as the country's sole authorized representative of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) since 1950. It delivers accreditation for air sports schools and training centres, FAI sporting license processing, event sanctioning, national record claim administration, and membership services across disciplines including general aviation, gliding, skydiving, paragliding, hang gliding, ballooning, microlights, paramotors, aeromodelling, drones, rotorcraft, and amateur-built aircraft.

Product overview

The Aero Club of India (ACI) operates as India's National Airsport Control and apex body for air sports, functioning as the official representative of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) since 1950. Rather than a unified software product, ACI offers a portfolio of governance, certification, and support services. The core offerings include: (1) Air Sports Training and Accreditation services for schools and training centres across disciplines such as paragliding, skydiving, hang gliding, drone racing, and general aviation; (2) FAI Sporting License Services enabling international competition participation; (3) Event Sanctioning and National Record Claims Processing; (4) National Repository Databases for skydiving and microlight/paramotor sectors; (5) Membership Services providing access to affiliated clubs and competitions; (6) Pilot Training Support through partnerships with aircraft manufacturers like Sakthi Aircraft Industry for DA40 NG trainer aircraft; and (7) Aero Adventure Magazine, India's only aero sports publication available in multiple languages. ACI also provides digital platforms for air sporting event applications, NASTRA flight training registration, and school accreditation forms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Services Annual membership programmes providing access to affiliated flying clubs, eligibility to participate in national and international air sports competitions, and networking opportunities with aviation enthusiasts across India.
• Aero Sports Training and Accreditation Services Accreditation and certification services for air sports schools and training centres across India, covering disciplines including paragliding, skydiving, hang gliding, and drone racing, with standardized SOPs and guidelines.
• FAI Sporting License Services Issuance of FAI Sporting Licenses that enable Indian pilots and air sports participants to compete in international competitions under the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale framework.
• Event Sanctioning and Coordination Sanctioning and coordination of national and international air sports events, including competitions, championships, and record attempts, ensuring compliance with FAI regulations.
• National Record Claims Processing Administration of national record claim submissions for air sports disciplines, maintaining procedures for setting and validating records in various aero sports categories.
• Pilot Training Support Programme Coordination with Sakthi Aircraft Industry and Flying Training Organisations to supply domestically manufactured DA40 NG trainer aircraft, supporting training of over 1,000 pilots annually and reducing India's dependence on imported training aircraft.
• General Aviation Services Support and regulation of general aviation activities including gliding, ballooning, microlights, paramotors, rotorcraft, and amateur-built aircraft.
• National Repository Databases

Quantifiable outcome

• Projected to train 1,000 pilots annually through domestic trainer aircraft manufacturing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Indian Mountaineering FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026MoU signed with Odisha government to promote adventure tourism, including trekking, rock climbing, paragliding, and paramotoring through the 'Go Adventure' portal.
• Odisha GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Partnership to launch 'Go Adventure' portal and promote adventure tourism in Odisha. Initiative aims to streamline procedures, improve safety, and attract investment in adventure tourism activities.
• The Economic TimesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2025ACI partnered with The Economic Times for the ET Infra Air Summit 2025 held at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. Summit brought together government leaders, industry visionaries, and stakeholders from aviation, aerospace, and infrastructure sectors.
• Sakthi Aircraft Industry Private Limited (SAIPL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2025Landmark MoU signed on March 11, 2025 to domestically manufacture 200 Diamond DA40 NG trainer aircraft. Of the 200 aircraft, 150 will be assembled at Sakthi Aircraft Industry's planned facility in Haryana, with the rest manufactured in Austria under technology partnership. First deliveries expected by end of 2025, with annual production of 100 units. Projected to train 1,000 pilots annually and generate 250+ direct jobs.
• Diamond Aircraft Industries (Austria)coreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2025Austrian technology partner providing DA40 NG aircraft technology for domestic manufacturing in India. The DA40 NG is a state-of-the-art, four-seater single-engine aircraft with modern avionics and jet-fuel engine, recognized globally for safety and efficiency in pilot training.
• Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI)coreOthers · 14 October 1905ACI has been an active member of FAI since 1950. FAI is the world body governing Aerosports, headquartered in Switzerland, founded on 14 October 1905. ACI represents all air sport disciplines in India at international level.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aero Club of Canada: Canada's FAI-recognized NAC providing sport-pilot certifications, aero-sport sanctioning, and pilot training coordination; mirrored NAC mandate to ACI in India.
• Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom: UK's FAI-recognized NAC with heritage brand emphasizing pilot training, gliding, and aero-sport accreditation; structurally analogous to ACI's federation, accreditation, and licensing mandate.
• Deutscher Aero Club (Germany): Germany's national FAI-affiliated aero club overseeing flying clubs, gliding, microlights, and aero-sport licensing; matches ACI's multi-discipline, federation-based governance model.
• Fédération Française Aéronautique (France): France's national aero club and FAI member providing accreditation, training oversight, and competitive licensing across air sports; directly comparable scope to ACI's mandate.
• Royal Belgian Aero Club: Belgium's FAI-affiliated national aero club providing licensing, training accreditation, and air-sport coordination; closely analogous to ACI's federated regulatory role.
• Aero Club d'Italia: Italy's national aero club and FAI member operating across general aviation, gliding, and aero-sport disciplines; comparable governance and accreditation scope to ACI.
• National Aeronautic Association (USA): USA's National Airsport Control and FAI member since 1905; accredits record claims, FAI sporting licenses, and aero-sport oversight—directly comparable to ACI's NAC role for India.

Emerging players

• Diamond Aircraft Industries: Austrian manufacturer of the DA40 NG trainer aircraft that is the technology partner for ACI's domestic manufacturing initiative with Sakthi Aircraft Industry.

Broad incumbents

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): India's dominant state-owned aerospace manufacturer producing military and trainer aircraft (HTT-40, HPT-32); broader incumbent in the domestic aviation training supply chain that ACI's trainer-aircraft initiative engages with.

Others

• Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): Global governing body for air sports headquartered in Switzerland; ACI has been an active member since 1950, providing the international framework that legitimizes ACI's national authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aeroclubofindia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aeroclubofindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/AeroClubOfficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/aeroclubofindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aero Club of India