Given India’s enormous geographical breadth, diverse topography, and favorable meteorological conditions, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has produced a draft National Air Sports Policy (NASP) to maximize the country’s potential for air sports.
About the Draft National Air Sports Policy:
Aerobatics, aeromodelling, ballooning, drones, gliding, hang gliding, paragliding, and skydiving are all included in the draft NASP 2022.
According to the draft NASP, an Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) will be constituted as the apex regulating body.
The day-to-day operations will be handled by the associations for each air sport.
The Paragliding Association of India, for example, will oversee sports under its jurisdiction.
According to the proposed policy, air sports associations are responsible to ASFI for regulatory monitoring as well as guaranteeing safe, affordable, accessible, pleasurable, and sustainable conduct of their respective air sport.
According to ASFI, India would be represented at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and other international venues connected to air sports.
The FAI is the world’s regulating body for air sports, with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
According to the proposed NASP, all competitions in India will be run according to the FAI’s criteria.
Significance:
The new effort, according to the ministry, will let Indians participa te in and succeed in global air sporting competitions. Air sports will be encouraged to be included in the curriculum of schools, colleges, and universities.
According to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, domestic design, development, and manufacturing of air sports equipment will be encouraged.
If an air sports association fails to enforce safety requirements, the ASFI may take disciplinary action against it, including financial penalties, suspension, or dismissal.
