India’s first National Air Sports Policy is unveiled by the Centre.
NEW DELHI — The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) published the country’s first national air sports policy (NASP 2022) on Tuesday, taking another step toward making India one of the top air sports nations by 2030.
Aerobatics, aeromodelling, model rocketry, amateur-built and experimental aircraft, ballooning, drones, gliding and powered gliding, hang-gliding and powered hang-gliding, parachuting (including skydiving, BASE jumping, and wingsuit flying), paragliding and paramotoring (including powered parachute trikes), powered aircraft and rotorcraft are all covered by the NASP in its current form.
“Indian kids are the future of aero sports.” Programs targeted at increasing public interest in aerial sports will be promoted. “Air sports would be promoted to be integrated in the curriculum of schools, colleges, and universities,” stated Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) will serve as the initiative’s governing body. “After discussing with stakeholders, the ASFI will publish its draught guidelines within six months following the release of NASP 2022.” The policy said that “this federation will be led by civil aviation ministry secretary Rajiv Bansal.”
“The ASFI will be an autonomous organisation that will represent India at the Fédération aéronautique internationale (FAI) and other worldwide air sports forums.” It will oversee all areas of air sports, including regulation, certification, contests, rewards, and punishments, according to MoCA.
ASFI will hold national air sports associations accountable for ensuring that their respective athletic activities are safe, inexpensive, accessible, and sustainable.
According to the MoCA, sports associations will manage all regulatory matters pertaining to safety, training, licencing, and airworthiness. Along with other manned or unmanned flights, they will need to communicate with air traffic control authorities for safe operations.
“Corporate investors, sponsors, membership fees, events, and media rights will provide long-term finance for the growth of air sports in India… “All air sports contests in India would be organised in accordance with FAI norms, if appropriate,” the policy stated.
The policy also specified that anybody engaged in an accident must notify the relevant air sports association in writing, with a copy to the ASFI, no later than 48 hours after the occurrence.
“Inability of an air sports association to enforce acceptable safety standards may result in disciplinary action by the ASFI against such association, including financial fines, suspension, or dismissal,” the policy declared.
