NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a draft National Air Sports Policy (NASP) to leverage India’s potential for air sports, given its large geographical expanse, diverse topography and fair weather conditions.
In issuing the NASP, the ministry’s vision is to see “India as one of the top air sports nations by 2030”, while the NASP’s mission statement is: “To provide a safe, affordable, accessible, enjoyable and sustainable air sports ecosystem in India.”
The draft NASP 2022, which has reportedly been in the works for about a year, covers activities such as air racing, aerobatics, aeromodelling, hang gliding, paragliding, paramotoring, flying vintage aircraft, ballooning, operating drones and skydiving.
The Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) will be established as the apex governing body, according to the draft NASP, while associations for each air sport will handle day to day activities.
The air sports associations shall be accountable to ASFI with respect to regulatory oversight, the draft policy stated.
Besides the revenue from air sports activities, multiplier benefits in terms of growth in travel, tourism, infrastructure and local employment, especially in hilly areas of the country, are much greater, the NASP states. Creating air sports hubs across the country will bring in air sports professionals and tourists from across the world, according to the draft policy, which has been placed in the public domain to seek feedback.
ASFI will represent India at Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and other global platforms related to air sports, it noted. The FAI, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, is the world governing body for air sports.
All competitions in India will be conducted as per the guidelines laid down by the FAI, the draft NASP noted.
According to the ministry, the new initiative will facilitate greater participation and success of Indians in global air sporting events. Schools, colleges and universities will be encouraged to include air sports in their curriculum, it noted.
The ministry will also push for allowing import of air sports equipment without any levies for a specified number of years.
In order to make air sports affordable to all, the ministry will request the GST Council to consider rationalizing tax rates on air sports equipment to 5% or less, the draft said.
Domestic design, development and manufacturing of air sports equipment will be promoted in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, it mentioned. Inability to enforce safety standards by an air sports association might lead to penal action by the ASFI against such association, including financial penalties, suspension or dismissal, it noted.
To download draft NASP, click here…
