AEROCLUB | NRW e.V.

What AEROCLUB | NRW e.V. does

AEROCLUB | NRW e.V. is the official state-level aviation sports federation (Luftsportverband) for North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, registered as a nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) at Amtsgericht Duisburg under VR 50 680. The federation represents 177 affiliated aviation sports clubs (Luftsportvereine) spanning seven disciplines — gliding, powered flight, motor glider, model aircraft, ballooning, parachuting, ultralight flight, and hang gliding — collectively serving approximately 14,000 individual members. Headquartered in Duisburg with a 6-person staff led by President Volker Engelmann and Managing Director Hermann-Josef Hante, the organization operates as a membership federation under the umbrella of the Deutscher Aero Club (DAeC) and Landessportbund NRW (LSB NRW).

The federation's core service portfolio combines regulatory and operational functions: it runs an Authorized Training Organization (ATO) for pilot licensing (LAPL, PPL, SPL), a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) for member aircraft oversight, Luftfahrttechnische Betriebe for technical inspections under Luftfahrt-Bundesamt supervision, a youth wing (Luftsportjugend NRW for under-25s), an elite athlete D-Kader program, and community events including the annual Fly-In, UL Info Days, and the new RHEIN GLIDE soaring competition. Digital infrastructure includes the Vereinsflieger membership platform (operated by Breitenbach und Otero GbR), a Brevo-powered newsletter (LuftsportNews NRW), and social channels on Facebook and Instagram.

The revenue model is non-commercial and nonprofit: recurring membership fees per the Beitragsordnung 2022, supplemented by government funding channelled through the Land NRW (Landesförderung R+S program, up to €77,000/year for safety equipment) and LSB NRW (including access to the €200M tranche of the €1B NRW-Sportmilliarde for club-owned sport facilities). Member acquisition flows through affiliated clubs; services reach individual pilots via the two-tier club-federation channel. A Good Governance Framework with an elected Ethics Officer (Ethikbeauftragter) standardizes compliance across the federation and its member clubs.

Name

AEROCLUB | NRW e.V.

Legal name

AEROCLUB | NRW e.V.

Website

https://aeroclub-nrw.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AEROCLUB | NRW e.V. is the nonprofit state-level aviation sports federation for North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, representing 177 affiliated clubs and ~14,000 members across seven air sports disciplines. It delivers pilot training (ATO), aircraft airworthiness management (CAMO), youth development, and state-level competition under DAeC and LSB NRW.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Sports Federation

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Aviation sports federation
• Flight training services
• Pilot licensing programs
• Airworthiness management
• Youth aviation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Duisburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (Beitragsordnung): AEROCLUB NRW operates as a registered non-profit association (e.V.) whose primary revenue stream is membership fees collected from its 177 affiliated clubs and individual members. Fees are governed by the Beitragsordnung (contribution schedule) filed on the website. The federation also accesses government funding through Land NRW and the Landessportbund NRW (LSB NRW).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AEROCLUB | NRW e.V. is the state-level federation for aviation sports in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, representing 177 member clubs and approximately 14,000 individual pilots and enthusiasts across seven aviation disciplines (gliding, motor flight, ultralight, model aircraft, ballooning, parachuting, hang gliding). It delivers standardized pilot licensing training through its Authorized Training Organisation (ATO), oversees aircraft airworthiness via its CAMO, and operates youth development, competitive events, and safety equipment funding programs.

Product overview

AEROCLUB | NRW e.V. is a state-level air sports association (Luftsportverband) representing approximately 14,000 members across 177 aviation clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Rather than offering software products, the association provides a portfolio of air sports programs and services organized under its unified governance structure. The core offerings span seven air sports disciplines (glider flying, powered flight, ultralight flight, model aircraft, hot air ballooning, parachuting, and hang gliding), supported by training and education services through an authorized training organization (ATO), youth development programs (Luftsportjugend NRW), elite athlete development (D-Kader), aviation technical services (CAMO), and various event programs. Digital services include the LuftsportNews NRW newsletter, online membership administration via Vereinsflieger, and resource materials such as the MOGAS-Karte. The association's work is governed by its Good Governance Framework including compliance systems, ethics codes, and behavioral guidelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Luftsportjugend NRW: Youth organization for children, teenagers, and young adults up to 25 years who are members of clubs affiliated with AEROCLUB | NRW e.V.

Products and services

• Flight Training and Pilot Licensing (Ausbildung / ATO)

Quantifiable outcome

• 177 clubs and ~14,000 members organized under one federation representing all aviation sports disciplines in NRW
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Deutscher Aero Club e.V. (DAeC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEROCLUB NRW is a state-level member of DAeC, the national aviation sports federation of Germany. DAeC serves as the umbrella organization providing the framework for state-level federations, national competition standards, and representation at EASA and international aviation bodies. AEROCLUB NRW participates in DAeC programs including national championships, D-Kader development, and Anti-Doping initiatives.
• Landessportbund Nordrhein-Westfalen (LSB NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEROCLUB NRW is a member of LSB NRW, the state sports federation of North Rhine-Westphalia. Through this membership, the federation accesses government sports funding, including the NRW-Sportmilliarde (€200M for club facilities), the Landesförderung R+S safety equipment program (up to €77,000/year), and youth development grants. LSB NRW administers the application portal for these programs.
• Luftsportjugend NRW (LSJ NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuftsportjugend NRW is the youth wing of AEROCLUB NRW, covering all children, teenagers, and young adults up to age 25 in affiliated clubs. It operates its own portal at lsj.de, organizes youth competitions (Jugendvergleichsfliegen), training camps, leadership development, and international exchanges. Funded in part by Sportjugend NRW.
• Sportjugend NRWmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSportjugend NRW is the youth sports arm of LSB NRW. It co-funds the Flieger-Kibaz program with €400 per event for clubs that organize family days with at least 40 children. Additional support includes the 'Zeig dein Profil' club development program and Kibaz/Jolinchen special actions for early childhood engagement.
• AOK Rheinland/Hamburg and AOK NordWestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAOK health insurance partners co-sponsor the Kibaz and Jolinchen family action days (Sportjugend NRW initiative) that AEROCLUB NRW clubs participate in. AOK serves as a health partner providing program support for child movement activities at aviation sports venues.
• Siebert Luftfahrtbedarf GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEROCLUB NRW partnered with Siebert Luftfahrtbedarf GmbH in Münster to offer three PowerFLARM Flex upgrade packages at a ~15% NRW member discount to clubs. The packages (basic, fixed installation, mobile) are available exclusively to AEROCLUB NRW member clubs. This addresses the end-of-life of first-generation FLARM devices and supports the state's safety funding goals.
• Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)coreOthersThe LBA exercises specialist regulatory oversight over AEROCLUB NRW's Luftfahrttechnische Betriebe (technical operations) and its CAMO. Annual airworthiness inspections of member club aircraft are conducted under LBA-supervised standards. The ATO operates under approvals from the Landesluftfahrtbehörde.
• Breitenbach und Otero GbR (Vereinsflieger)coreTechnology or IntegrationBreitenbach und Otero GbR (Anne-Frank-Str. 5, 35428 Langgöns) operates the Vereinsflieger online platform used by AEROCLUB NRW and its member clubs for member administration, billing, and training records management. Data processing is governed by a data processing agreement (AVV) as required under GDPR.
• Land Nordrhein-Westfalen (Abteilung Sport)coreOthersThe State of NRW (Ministry/Sports Department) provides annual funding to AEROCLUB NRW for safety equipment (Landesförderung R+S, up to €77,000 in 2026) and is the source of the NRW-Sportmilliarde's €200M club facility fund. The state acts as the primary government funding partner for the federation.
• Landesluftfahrtbehörde NRWcoreOthersThe regional aviation authority is the supervisory body for AEROCLUB NRW's ATO (authorized training organization). The ATO reports flight student progress, instructor qualifications, and medical fitness information to this authority as required by operational approval conditions.
• Segelflugschule OerlinghausenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSegelflugschule Oerlinghausen is a flight school linked from AEROCLUB NRW's service section under 'Luftsportschulen.' It provides gliding training and is part of the federation's training ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fédération Française Aéronautique (FFA): The French national aviation sports federation, structurally analogous to DAeC at the country level and therefore broadly comparable to AEROCLUB NRW's role as a state-level sub-federation within a European GA framework.
• British Gliding Association (BGA): The UK national gliding association, comparable to the gliding/seglflug arm of AEROCLUB NRW and to D-Kader-style elite development programs. Operates in a different national jurisdiction but serves a similar member and training mandate.

Direct peers

• Deutscher Fallschirmsportverband (DFV): The German Parachuting Sport Federation, the national umbrella body for skydiving and parachuting. Comparable to the parachuting arm of AEROCLUB NRW and a relevant peer for the federation's competition and training programs in that discipline.
• Aero-Club Bayern e.V. The state-level aviation sports federation for Bavaria, structurally identical to AEROCLUB NRW in covering all aviation sports disciplines, operating an ATO/CAMO framework, and representing member clubs at state level. Most directly comparable peer in scale and mandate.
• AOPA Germany: The German member association of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, focused on pilot advocacy, flight training access, and general aviation representation. Overlaps with AEROCLUB NRW on pilot licensing advocacy and GA training services.
• Deutscher Ultraleichtflugverband (DULV): The German Ultralight Aviation Association, which serves as the umbrella body for ultralight flying in Germany. Directly comparable in representing one of the seven aviation sports disciplines that AEROCLUB NRW coordinates at the NRW state level.
• Deutscher Modellflieger Verband (DMFV): The German Model Aircraft Federation, the largest model aircraft organization in Germany. Directly comparable to the model aircraft arm of AEROCLUB NRW and represents an alternative organizational model for the model flying community.
• Hessischer Luftsportverband: The state-level aviation sports federation for Hesse, with structurally similar responsibilities to AEROCLUB NRW in coordinating member clubs, providing training oversight, and representing aviation sports interests at the state level.

Others

• Landessportbund Nordrhein-Westfalen (LSB NRW): The state sports federation of North Rhine-Westphalia, of which AEROCLUB NRW is a member. Not a direct aviation peer but the umbrella body through which government sports funding (NRW-Sportmilliarde, Landesförderung) is administered to AEROCLUB NRW and its 177 clubs.

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Aero Club e.V. (DAeC): The national German aviation sports federation of which AEROCLUB NRW is a state-level member. DAeC sets national competition standards, represents German aviation sports internationally, and provides the umbrella framework within which state federations like AEROCLUB NRW operate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aeroclub.nrw
• Instagraminstagram.com/aeroclubnrw/?locale=en_US%2Cen_GB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aeroclub-%C2%A0nrw-e-v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 AEROCLUB | NRW e.V.