The Bombay flying club

What The Bombay flying club does

The Bombay Flying Club is a private aviation training institution founded in 1928 in Mumbai, India, and recognised as the birthplace of Indian civil aviation. It operates a Flying Training Organisation approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a College of Aviation affiliated to the University of Mumbai, delivering a portfolio of programmes including Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Private Pilot Licence (PPL) training, a two-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) licence programme in B1.1, B1.2, and B2 streams, B.Sc. Aviation and B.Sc. Aeronautics degrees, an Air Hostess / Cabin Crew diploma, and a DGCA-approved Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) drone pilot course. The flagship CPL offering provides 200 hours of flying training and can be combined with the B.Sc. Aviation degree, while the AME programme includes 360 hours of practical training delivered through On-the-Job Training partnerships with Air India, SpiceJet, GoAir (Go First), Air Works India, and Max MRO.

The institution's training infrastructure is built around a fleet including a Cessna 172R equipped with the Garmin 1000 glass cockpit, ELITE synthetic flight simulators approved by DGCA, a dedicated government-allotted private airfield at Gondur (Dhule, Maharashtra) with night-flying and instrument facilities, hostels, and modern classroom facilities. The Club also holds the distinction of being the first Flying Training Organisation in India approved by DGCA to conduct RPAS drone pilot training. Its operating model is direct-to-consumer: admissions are managed in-house through phone helplines, WhatsApp, online enquiry forms, and an in-house counselling team, with no third-party distribution partners. Revenue is generated almost entirely through upfront per-batch tuition fees paid by individual students, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Notable alumni include J.R.D. Tata (India's first licensed pilot, trained 1929) and graduates placed with airlines including Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara.

Name

The Bombay flying club

Legal name

The Bombay Flying Club

Website

https://thebombayflyingclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Bombay Flying Club is a Mumbai-based DGCA-approved aviation training institution (founded 1928) offering pilot licence (CPL/PPL), Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, cabin crew, and drone pilot courses, plus University of Mumbai-affiliated B.Sc. Aviation and Aeronautics degrees, serving aspiring pilots, maintenance engineers, cabin crew, and drone operators in India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Airport Operations (48811)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC), Emerging Aviation Maintenance (UAS/Drone, eVTOL & Advanced Air Mobility) (EDAOAFAO), Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)

Keywords

• Pilot training courses
• Aircraft maintenance engineering
• Cabin crew training
• Drone pilot certification
• Aviation degree programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pilot Training Courses (CPL, PPL, Hobby Flying): Tuition fees charged for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Private Pilot Licence (PPL), and Executive PPL courses. The flagship CPL programme (8–10 months) is combined with a BSc. Aviation degree. Fees are paid per batch (2024-26 batch referenced) and vary by programme.
2. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) Licence Programme: DGCA-approved 2-year AME programme in Mechanical (B1.1, B1.2) and Avionics (B2) streams, charging tuition fees per academic year with 60% theory and 40% practical training components.
3. BSc. Aviation Degree Programme: 3-year university-affiliated BSc. Aviation degree combined with CPL training, affiliated to University of Mumbai, with annual tuition fees per batch.
4. BSc. Aeronautics Degree Programme: 3-year BSc. Aeronautics degree covering aeronautical engineering topics with optional AME combination, charging annual tuition fees per batch.
5. Air Hostess / Cabin Crew Training Course: Approximately 1-year part-time programme (classes held online 2 hours/day, Monday to Friday), affiliated to University of Mumbai, with tuition fees per batch.
6. Drone Flying (RPAS) Certification Course: DGCA-approved drone pilot certification course of 10–15 days duration, charging a one-time course fee for theory, simulator flying, and practical flight training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Bombay Flying Club delivers DGCA-approved aviation training programmes, including Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME), Air Hostess/Cabin Crew, and Drone Flying (RPAS) certification. It also offers BSc. Aviation and BSc. Aeronautics degrees affiliated to the University of Mumbai, combining academic study with hands-on flight, simulator, and MRO practical training at its dedicated private airfield in Dhule and campus facilities in Juhu, Mumbai.

Product overview

The Bombay Flying Club is an aviation training institute established in 1928, offering a portfolio of aviation education programmes. The core offerings include pilot training courses (CPL, PPL), aircraft maintenance engineering (AME), cabin crew training, and drone flying programmes. Academic degree programmes (BSc. Aviation, BSc. Aeronautics) are offered in affiliation with Mumbai University. The institution provides combined programmes where students can pursue CPL with BSc. Aviation or AME with BSc. Aeronautics simultaneously. Training facilities include simulators, an airfield in Dhule with night-flying capabilities, and partnerships with airlines and MROs for practical training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Course DGCA-approved Commercial Pilot Licence programme offering 200 hours of flying training over 8–10 months, covering dual/solo flights, instrument, cross-country flights, and night flying ratings. Designed for individuals seeking careers as commercial airline pilots.
• Private Pilot Licence (PPL) – Hobby Flying / Executive PPL Weekend-based Private Pilot Licence programme for executives and hobby flyers using a Cessna Skyhawk 172R with Garmin 1000 glass cockpit, leading to DGCA PPL certification with a minimum of 40 flying hours. Targeted at working professionals and hobby pilots.
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) Programme DGCA-approved 2-year AME licence programme with Mechanical (Aeroplane Turbines B1.1, Aeroplane Piston B1.2) and Avionics (B2) specialisations, including 360 hours of practical training at CAR-145 approved MRO organisations. Designed for students pursuing careers as certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.
• BSc. Aviation Degree 3-year degree programme affiliated to the University of Mumbai covering air regulations, navigation, meteorology, aircraft systems, design, construction, research, operations, and testing of aircraft, helicopters, and gliders. For students combining academic aviation education with pilot training.
• BSc. Aeronautics Degree 3-year aeronautical engineering degree programme from the University of Mumbai covering aerodynamics, aircraft systems, avionics, propulsion, and airworthiness certification. For students pursuing higher studies or management roles in aeronautics, optionally combined with AME training.
• Air Hostess / Cabin Crew Training Approximately 1-year part-time programme (classes online 2 hours/day, Monday to Friday) affiliated to the University of Mumbai, covering aviation hospitality fundamentals, safety procedures, passenger service, grooming, and communication. Designed for individuals targeting cabin crew roles with airlines.
• Drone Flying (RPAS) Certification Course DGCA-approved 10–15 day Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) drone pilot certification covering flight principles, airspace regulations, safety protocols, simulator flying, and practical flight training. Targets aspiring commercial drone pilots across applications such as surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained J.R.D. Tata, Father of Indian Aviation, who received India's first pilot's licence (No. 1) in 1929
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Air India (Airbus Group)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructured Actual Environmental Practical Training partnership. BFC students undertaking On-the-Job Training (OJT) at Air India (Airbus Group) for aircraft maintenance, repairs and overhaul in B1.1 (Aeroplane Turbines) category. Provides real-world exposure at one of India's largest MRO facilities.
• Air India (Boeing Group)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOJT arrangement for BFC AME students in B1.1 (Aeroplane Turbines) category at Air India's Boeing maintenance operations, providing hands-on experience on Boeing fleet.
• GoAirminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOJT partner for BFC AME students for practical aircraft maintenance training at GoAir (now Go First) MRO facilities.
• Air Works IndiacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOJT partner providing practical training in aircraft maintenance, repairs and overhaul for BFC AME students at Air Works India, a major independent MRO in India.
• Max MRO (Mumbai)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOJT practical training partner for BFC AME students at Max MRO Mumbai for hands-on aircraft maintenance experience.
• SpiceJetminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOJT partner for practical aircraft maintenance training at SpiceJet's maintenance facilities for BFC AME students.
• University of MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal MOU signed between University of Mumbai and Bombay Flying Club's College of Aviation to conduct the B.Sc. Aviation degree programme. The University grants the recognised degree while BFC delivers the combined CPL + academic programme. This is a flagship partnership enabling degree-awarding pilot training.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Flying Training Institute (NFTI): Public-private flying training institute located at Gondia, Maharashtra, offering DGCA-approved CPL and PPL training with a dedicated airfield and modern simulator fleet. Direct peer in Indian CPL training with similar regulatory positioning, serving overlapping aspirational pilot candidates across India.
• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA): Government-run premier flying academy in India offering integrated CPL and instructor rating courses with its own airfield at Rae Bareli. Directly comparable as a DGCA-approved Indian pilot training institution targeting the same aspirational commercial pilot segment, though it is larger, government-owned, and operates from a different geography.
• Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RGAAT): Kerala-based DGCA-approved flying training organisation offering integrated pilot training programmes affiliated with a state university. Direct Indian peer combining CPL with academic degrees in a similar integrated model, competing for the same southern and NRI student pool.
• Madhya Pradesh Flying Club: One of India's oldest flying clubs (established 1930s), historically comparable to BFC in heritage and PPL/CPL offerings, though operating at smaller scale and from a different state. Comparable as a legacy Indian flying club targeting similar aspirational pilot and hobby-flying segments.

Broad incumbents

• FlightSafety International: Long-established global aviation training company operating a network of learning centres with full-flight simulators and type-rating programmes for pilots and maintenance technicians. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same pilot and AME training category that BFC operates in, though at much larger scale and with global airline clients.
• CAE: Global leader in aviation training with a broad portfolio spanning pilot simulators, type-rating training, AME, and crew training across dozens of countries. Comparable as a much larger aviation training incumbent that competes for the same corporate, airline, and simulator-as-a-service budgets that BFC's premium segments touch, particularly in the type-rating and instructor-rating adjacencies.
• Lufthansa Aviation Training: European-based aviation training provider affiliated with Lufthansa, offering pilot type-rating, cabin crew, AME, and simulator training across multiple European hubs. Comparable as a broad incumbent training operator that BFC could partner with or be benchmarked against on premium pilot and type-rating training offerings.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Globally recognised university specialising in aviation and aerospace education, offering degrees in aeronautical science, AME, and pilot training with US accreditation. Comparable as a broad incumbent in aviation higher education, providing a benchmark for BFC's BSc. Aviation and BSc. Aeronautics programmes and for international student recruitment.

Emerging players

• Orient Flight School: Indian DGCA-approved pilot training academy offering PPL and CPL courses with modern fleet and transparent pricing structure. Comparable as an emerging Indian flight school competing for the same aspirational pilot segment with a more digitally enabled, transparent-pricing model that pressures legacy clubs on customer acquisition.
• Air India Aviation Academy: Airline-affiliated aviation training academy in India offering cabin crew, ground staff, and pilot pathway programmes with strong placement into Air India's network. Comparable as an emerging Indian training player that competes for the same cabin crew and pilot pipeline BFC serves, with the added advantage of internal airline placement at a major carrier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BOMBAYFLYINGCLUB
• Instagraminstagram.com/thebombayflyingclub
• Xx.com/FlyingClub1928
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bombay-flying-club-s-college-of-aviation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Bombay flying club