Club De Planeadores De Vitacura

What Club De Planeadores De Vitacura does

Club de Planeadores de Vitacura (CPV) is a private, member-owned gliding club founded in 1946 and based at the Aeródromo Municipal de Vitacura (SCLC) in Santiago, Chile. The club operates a fleet of approximately 20 gliders — including basic two-seat trainers and advanced single-seat sailplanes — supported by five tow planes for aerotow launches. It serves four customer segments: individual pilots and aviation enthusiasts (its core membership), families and experience-seekers purchasing demo flights or attending the annual Open Day, international visiting pilots leveraging Andean soaring conditions, and underprivileged children participating in the Cóndores del Manquehue social program. The club is governed by an elected board led by President Cristian Kuhlenthal Becker and is affiliated with the Federación Aérea de Chile (FEDACH) and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

Core operations center on three products: a 3-month glider pilot training course combining theoretical instruction with ~60 weekend practical flights to license, demonstration flights priced at $100,000 CLP (US$140 for international visitors), and membership access to the fleet and facilities. Aerodrome infrastructure includes covered parking, repair shops, a classroom, an on-site restaurant, weather cameras, and OGN tracking, making the site a self-sufficient operations hub. Ancillary monetization includes event fees from the Open Day (drawing 6,000+ attendees in 2024 and 2026), national championship organization, and gift card sales.

The business model combines recurring membership dues with transactional demo flight and training revenue, alongside event-based income from competitions and the Open Day air show. Distribution is exclusively direct — services delivered on-site at the Vitacura aerodrome or via website and phone booking. The club has no public-facing API, no disclosed external funding, and operates as a non-profit sporting organization under DGAC oversight. Recent strategic positioning centers on the 2028 FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Finals hosting and deepening partnerships with the Municipality of Vitacura, Conaf for wildfire aerial response, and corporate sponsors supporting community programs.

Name

Club De Planeadores De Vitacura

Legal name

Club de Planeadores de Vitacura

Website

https://planeadores.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Club de Planeadores de Vitacura is a private Chilean gliding club founded in 1946, operating ~20 gliders and 5 tow planes from Santiago's Vitacura aerodrome to deliver pilot training, demo flights, and membership flying.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Aviation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Glider flight training
• Sailplane operations
• Aerotow launching
• Gliding club membership
• Recreational aviation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vitacura, Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual/membership fees for club members who gain access to fleet of approximately 20 gliders for personal flying.
2. Demo Flight Sales: Sale of demonstration flights: 20-minute local flights at $100,000 CLP, 30-minute international demo flights at US$140. Revenue from individuals and corporate gift cards.
3. Pilot Training Courses: Glider pilot course consisting of 3 months of theoretical instruction (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 19:00-21:00) plus practical weekend flights (9:00-13:00). Approximately 60 flights required for license completion.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from Open Day events including helicopter rides, food trucks, and vendor participation fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Club de Planeadores de Vitacura operates a private gliding club offering a 3-month glider pilot training course, 20-minute local demonstration flights ($100,000 CLP), 30-minute international visitor demo flights (US$140), and annual membership access to a fleet of approximately 20 gliders and 5 tow planes at the Vitacura aerodrome. The club also operates supporting programs including the Cóndores del Manquehue community social initiative and the annual Open Day public air show, and hosts national and international gliding competitions under FEDACH and FAI.

Product overview

Club de Planeadores de Vitacura operates a member-owned gliding club offering a unified portfolio of aviation services centered on glider flight training, recreational flying, and competitive gliding. The core offering consists of pilot training courses and demonstration flights using a fleet of approximately 20 gliders (basic and advanced, including two-seat aircraft), supported by five tow planes for aero launches. The club also provides social programs (Condores del Manquehue community flights), public events (Open Day air shows), and hosts regional and international competitions (National Championship, FAI Sailplane Grand Prix). An online member intranet provides access to resources and documentation. The organization is based at Aeródromo de Vitacura (SCLC) and is affiliated with FEDACH and FAI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cóndores del Manquehue: Community outreach program that fulfills the dream of flying for children and young people from social organizations
• Club Information - Visiting Pilot

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 children from social organizations have experienced their first flight through community programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Municipalidad de VitacuracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for community programs including the 'Cóndores del Manquehue' initiative bringing flight experiences to underserved children. Municipality provides bus transportation for participants. The club supports municipal emergency response including firefighting operations.
• Conaf (Corporación Nacional Forestal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement for wildfire emergency response. Club provides aerodrome access for helicopter operations during firefighting. During summer, club aircraft monitor pre-cordilleran zone to prevent or alert of fire outbreaks in partnership with northeastern Santiago municipalities.
• Starbucks ChileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood and beverage donations for community events including brunch for children participating in Cóndores del Manquehue flights. Ongoing support in multiple social responsibility activities.
• McDonald's ChileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood donations for social program events including lunch for children after flight experiences. Partnership has continued over multiple years of activities.
• Little CaesarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPizza donations for social events including Program Lazos activities with children from Renca.
• Fundación GantzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChildren from the inclusive rugby foundation participate in Cóndores del Manquehue flight experiences. Bus transportation provided by Municipality of Vitacura.
• Servicio de Protección Especializada a la Niñez y AdolescenciaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth from the child protection service participated in flights as recognition for academic achievements. Partnership with municipality and club for Cóndores del Manquehue program.
• FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation governing air sports. Selected Club de Planeadores de Vitacura to host the 2028 World Final of the Sailplane Grand Prix. Club previously hosted the 2018 final where Polish pilot Sebastian Kawa won.
• FEDACH (Federación Aérea de Chile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational aviation federation representing gliding clubs. Club organizes the annual National Championship under federation auspices. Federation provides recognition and support for competitions and records.
• FACH (Fuerza Aérea de Chile)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe 'Halcones' aerobatic team of the Chilean Air Force participated in Open Day 2024 events, providing aerial displays similar to their FIDAE performances.
• Armada de ChileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaval helicopter participated in Open Day exhibitions showing military aviation equipment to the public.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• British Gliding Association: UK national gliding association representing gliding clubs and pilots. Comparable as a national membership-based organization supporting pilot training, competitions, and member services for the gliding community, with similar structure to FEDACH's role in Chile.
• Soaring Society of America: US-based national membership organization representing glider pilots and soaring clubs across the United States. Broadly comparable as a national organization for the same sport with similar member services and competition governance, though focused on the US market.
• Royal Aero Club: UK-based umbrella organization for recreational aviation including gliding, powered flying, and other air sports. Comparable as a broader aviation membership organization, though not gliding-specific.

Others

• Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): International air sports federation governing gliding competitions worldwide. Not a competitor but a key relationship—FAI selected CPV to host the 2028 Sailplane Grand Prix World Final and previously the 2018 Final.
• Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau: German glider and sailplane manufacturer. Not a competitor but a key supplier—CPV's fleet of approximately 20 gliders likely includes Schempp-Hirth models used in advanced training and competition flying.
• Alexander Schleicher: German glider and sailplane manufacturer with a long heritage. Comparable ecosystem participant as a major supplier of training and competition gliders used by clubs like CPV.

Direct peers

• Aero Club de Chile: Chilean aviation organization offering flight training, recreational flying, and aviation experiences. Operates similar pilot training and aerial experience offerings in Chile, making it the most directly comparable Chilean aviation club to CPV.
• Club de Vuelo a Vela Atuel: Argentine sailplane club operating in similar Andes-adjacent soaring conditions. Directly comparable as a South American gliding club with pilot training, member fleet access, and competition hosting.

Regional players

• Federación Argentina de Vuelo a Vela: Argentine national federation for soaring, governing Argentine gliding clubs. Comparable as a regional organizing body for the same sport in a neighboring country, with similar membership and competition structures.

Emerging players

• iFly Indoor Skydiving: Indoor skydiving experience operator offering accessible aerial experiences to mainstream consumers. Comparable as an emerging aerial-adventure experience provider targeting casual thrill-seekers, though operating in a different niche (indoor wind-tunnel rather than outdoor soaring).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/planeadoreschile
• Facebookfacebook.com/planeadoreschile
• Instagraminstagram.com/clubplaneadores
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/club-de-planeadores-de-vitacura

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Club De Planeadores De Vitacura