Paragliding Association of India

What Paragliding Association of India does

The Paragliding Association of India (PAI) is the only nationally registered paragliding body in India, incorporated on 26 May 2010 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in Goa, and headquartered at Panaji. It functions as a non-profit national sports association whose mission is to promote, develop, control, and regulate paragliding in India, and it is recognized as the organizing body for FAI Category 2 sanctioned competitions under the FAI/CIVL framework. PAI serves individual pilots, paragliding schools, state associations, and clubs by administering a structured national platform for certification, insurance access, and competition.

PAI's core products are (1) Individual and School Memberships with annual fees of ₹500 and ₹2,000 respectively (plus one-time joining fees of ₹300 and ₹5,000), (2) the National Paragliding Rating System (NPRS v4) covering paragliding (PGP1–P10) and powered paragliding (PPG1–PPG7), benchmarked to FAI SafePro Para, and (3) Group Personal Accident Insurance facilitated through CARE Group Insurance at five coverage tiers (₹2,631 to ₹15,039 for solo pilots; ₹3,750 to ₹5,545 for tandem), which PAI explicitly states it does not earn from. Supporting artefacts include the PAI Technical Manual v2 (2020, based on BHPA and USPPA standards), the Tandem Pilot Handbook, and the Tandem Workshop Manual.

The technology backbone is the PAI Member Portal (portal.paraglidingassociationofindia.org), built and contributed in December 2025 by MC Member Puneet Behl at no cost, which provides membership management, rating tracking, digital member card generation, online assessments, and a public Pilot Verification search. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: PAI organized 16 consecutive years of workshops, training clinics, and national competitions, and channels flow through state associations (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim) and affiliated schools. Governance is democratic, with a Managing Committee elected every two years at the AGM. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and is fundamentally a function of membership dues.

Name

Paragliding Association of India

Legal name

Paragliding Association of India

Website

https://paraglidingassociationofindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Paragliding Association of India (PAI) is the national non-profit sports body for paragliding in India, registering individual pilots, schools, and state associations, administering the National Paragliding Rating System, and facilitating insurance and FAI-sanctioned competitions across the country.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Association / Adventure Sports Governance

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerial Adventure & Flight Schools (Paragliding, Hang Gliding, Paramotoring) (THAAAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paragliding, Skydiving & Airborne Adventure Sports (THAJABAJ), Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)

Keywords

• Paragliding sports association
• Pilot rating certification
• Flying school affiliation
• Adventure sports insurance
• National sports federation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kottayam

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: Individual pilots pay a one-time joining fee of ₹300 and annual membership fee of ₹500. This provides access to pilot ratings, insurance options, and community benefits.
2. School Membership Fees: Paragliding schools pay a one-time joining fee of ₹5,000 and annual membership fee of ₹2,000. Schools gain affiliation benefits and access to the rating system.
3. Insurance Premiums: PAI facilitates group personal accident insurance through CARE Group Insurance for members. Premiums range from ₹2,631 to ₹15,039 depending on coverage level and pilot type (Solo/Tandem). PAI explicitly states it does not earn or make any money from this arrangement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Paragliding Association of India provides subscription-based individual and school memberships, a nationally recognised pilot rating system for Paragliding (PG) and Powered Paragliding (PPG), group personal accident insurance facilitation through CARE Group Insurance, nationally standardised training manuals, and an online member portal for membership management, pilot verification, and insurance administration. It also organises FAI/CIVL-sanctioned paragliding competitions, workshops, and skill-development clinics as the national governing body.

Product overview

The Paragliding Association of India (PAI) operates a membership-based national sports association providing structured services for paragliding pilots across India. The core offering consists of individual and school memberships, group personal accident insurance (in partnership with CARE Group Insurance), and a nationally recognised pilot rating system for both Paragliding (PG) and Powered Paragliding (PPG) disciplines. These services are supported by the PAI Member Portal — a web platform for membership management, pilot verification, rating system tracking, and insurance administration — alongside downloadable resources including the PAI Technical Manual and Tandem Pilot Handbook.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Annual subscription membership for individual paragliding pilots with a ₹300 one-time joining fee and a ₹500 annual fee, providing access to nationally recognised pilot ratings, group insurance options, and community benefits.
• School Membership Annual affiliation subscription for paragliding training schools with a ₹5,000 one-time joining fee and a ₹2,000 annual fee, including access to the National Pilot Rating System and standardised curriculum materials.
• Group Personal Accident Insurance Personal accident insurance for paragliding pilots covering emergency injuries, air ambulance, no deductibles, and trips up to 365 days across Pan India plus Nepal and Bhutan. Available in coverage tiers up to 50 Lacs for Solo and up to 10 Lacs for Tandem, facilitated through CARE Group Insurance which manages all policy bookings and claims independently of PAI.
• National Paragliding Rating System (NPRS) Nationally recognised pilot rating framework covering Paragliding (PGP1 Introduction through P10 Examiner) and Powered Paragliding (PPG1 Novice through PPG7 Examiner), with equivalence to major international frameworks including FAI SafePro Para system. Available at Version 4 (PG) and updated October 2025 (PPG).
• PAI Member Portal Online web platform that manages PAI membership, pilot verification, rating system tracking, and insurance administration for individual pilots, schools and state associations. Includes digital member card generation, online assessment facilities, and a public pilot verification search by name or membership ID.
• FAI/CIVL Paragliding Competitions Annual national paragliding competitions organised by PAI, including FAI Category 2 sanctioned Cross Country (XC) and Accuracy competitions plus World Cup level qualifiers with WPRS ranking validity. Covers Paragliding India Accuracy Comp, Pre PG Accuracy World Cup, Panchgani Open XC, Himalayan Monal National Aerofest, and Paragliding World Cup events.
• Training Workshops and Skill Clinics Periodic national workshops and skill-development clinics covering Thermalling, Cross Country (XC), Reserve re-packing, Wilderness First Aid, Mentoring, Porosity Check, Tow Paragliding, Power Paragliding, and Tandem Pilot evaluation. Conducted by ace Indian pilots and international instructors, open to PAI members and certified candidates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Insurance covers emergency injuries, air ambulance, with no deductibles — full claim from first rupee
• +2 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• CARE Group InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2010PAI partners with CARE Group Insurance to provide group personal accident insurance to members at competitive pricing. CARE independently manages all policy bookings and claim processes. PAI explicitly states it does not earn any money from this arrangement, serving as a membership benefit rather than revenue source.
• British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAI Technical Manual was developed based on standards approved by BHPA. BHPA Technical Team conducted Instructor & Tandem Pilot Competence Certification Workshop in India in 2016. BHPA-certified Tandem Instructor conducted tandem pilot evaluation for Kerala Tourism.
• United States Powered Paragliding Association (USPPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAI Technical Manual was developed based on standards approved by USPPA, ensuring international equivalence for powered paragliding training and certification.
• FAI/CIVL (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAI and its affiliated state associations have organised internationally recognised paragliding competitions under FAI/CIVL framework, including FAI Category 2 sanctioned competitions and World Cup level qualifiers with WPRS ranking validity. Pilot rating system follows FAI SafePro Para system.
• Tamil Nadu State Association (Fly TN)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTamil Nadu State Association 'Fly TN' became associated with PAI in September 2011. Fly TN organises flying get-togethers and promotes paragliding in Tamil Nadu.
• Kerala State AssociationsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKerala state associations affiliated with PAI include those involved in the 7th International Paragliding Festival in Vagamon (2015) in association with KATPS and Kerala Tourism.
• Goa State Association (Goa Airsports Association)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoa Airsports Association partnered with PAI for the Fun-Flying Beach Festival at Anjuna Beach, Goa in April 2012.
• Sikkim State AssociationregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSikkim State Association affiliated with PAI. PAI Paragliding Festival conducted in November 2012 in association with Ministry of Tourism (Govt of Sikkim) and SLA Sikkim Paragliding Adventure Sports Co-Operative Society Ltd.
• Billing Paragliding AssociationregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBilling Paragliding Association partnered with PAI for the 1st Himalayan Monal National Aerofest in November 2021 at Khajjiar.
• Puneet Behl (Technical Developer)coreOthersDeveloped and contributed the comprehensive PAI website for member management, rating system and insurance management in December 2025 at no cost to PAI. Platform includes verifiable membership management, rating system, and insurance management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA): UK's national body for hang gliding and paragliding, performing the equivalent role to PAI. PAI's Technical Manual is built on BHPA-approved standards and BHPA instructors have run certification workshops in India, including tandem pilot evaluation for Kerala Tourism.
• United States Powered Paragliding Association (USPPA): US national association for powered paragliding. PAI's Technical Manual is based on USPPA-approved standards, and PAI's PPG rating system follows an equivalent structure, making this the closest international functional peer for powered paragliding governance.
• Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL): French free flight federation governing paragliding, hang gliding, and similar sports. Closest international analogue to PAI in terms of organisational structure, rating system, and competition governance for paragliding.
• Deutscher Hängegleiterverband (DHV): German hang gliding and paragliding association. Comparable national federation with rating, training, and competition governance role in Europe's largest paragliding market; directly comparable to PAI's mandate.
• Swiss Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SHV/FSVL): Switzerland's national body for hang gliding and paragliding. Similar governance role in a country with strong paragliding tourism, providing rating and competition oversight under the FAI framework.

Others

• FAI / CIVL (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale): International air sports federation whose CIVL commission governs paragliding globally. PAI operates within this framework for sanctioning competitions and rating recognition — a supervisory enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Indian Mountaineering Foundation: India's national body for mountaineering with a similar governing role for adventure sport standards, training, and expedition permits. Comparable Indian non-profit federation model operating in an adjacent adventure sport.

Broad incumbents

• Aero Club of India: India's national aero club overseeing multiple aviation sports. PAI's FAI/CIVL affiliation operates within the broader Indian aviation umbrella alongside this organisation, which covers powered and gliding aviation more broadly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PAIofficialpage

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Paragliding Association of India