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.
In its current form, the NASP will cover aerobatics, aeromodeling, 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.
“The youth of India are the future of aviation sports.” Programs aimed at increasing public awareness of ethical sports will be sponsored. According to Union civil aeronautics minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, air sports would be urged to be incorporated in the curriculum in seminaries, sodalities, and universities.
The Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) would be the initiative’s apex governing organization. “After consulting with stakeholders, the ASFI will publish its draught guidelines within six months of NASP 2022,” according to the document. federation will be chaired by Rajiv Bansal, the Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary.”
“The ASFI will represent India at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and other international air sports forums as a self-governing institution.” The MoCA will be in charge of all aspects of aviation, including regulation, certification, competitions, rewards, and penalties, according to the MoCA.
The national air sports associations will be held accountable to ASFI for ensuring that their specific sporting events are conducted in a safe, inexpensive, accessible, and sustainable manner.
According to the MoCA, sports associations will handle all regulatory concerns relating to safety, training, licensure, and airworthiness. For safe operations, they will need to cooperate with air traffic control authorities and other crewed and uncrewed missions.
“Corporate investors, sponsors, membership fees, events, and media rights will provide long-term support for the growth of air sports in India.” All air sports contests in India, according to the report, will be organised in accordance with FAI criteria.
According to the policy, a person, or an affiliated person, engaged in an accident must notify the responsible air sports association in writing, with a copy to the ASFI, no later than 48 hours after the incident.
“If an air sports organisation fails to enforce acceptable safety standards, the ASFI may take disciplinary action against the association, including financial penalties, suspension, or dismissal,” the policy stated.