Bombay Flying Club

The Bombay Flying Club is the oldest flying club in India. It is located at the Juhu aerodrome, Bombay (Mumbai).[1]

History

Bombay Flying Club was incorporated on 29 May 1928, and commenced instructions on 13 January 1929 when they received their first two De Havilland Moth aircraft, presented to them by the Government of India. A third aircraft, A D.H. Moth (Gipsy) was won by the Club as prize offered by Sir Charles Wakefield to the first Indian flying club which should turn out 12 qualified pilots, of whom at least six were to be Indians.[2] The Club used these aircraft for tuition, joy-rides, and air travel. The activities of the club were, unfortunately, limited by the fact that the aerodrome at Juhu was not suitable during the monsoon.[3] This problem was solved by 1937.[4] The Club received its licence to build a hangar and garages at the aerodrome on 17 August 1931.[5]

JRD Tata, the father of Indian civil aviation, who received India's first pilot licence, trained at this club in 1929. Lady Dinshaw Petit, his sister, became the first lady to obtain a pilot licence in India.[6]

Current Status

It currently owns one Cessna 152 Aerobat, five Cessna 172 of which one is equipped with Garmin 1000 Glass cockpit, a twin engine Piper PA-34 Seneca and one Piper Super Cub PA-18. The Club shifted part of its Training operations to Dhule Airport near the town of Dhule in 2009 to avoid the congested air-space of Mumbai. The Club leased the airstrip from the Maharashtra Airport Development Company in order to carry out its training activities without any restrictions.[7] Despite the city's change of name, the club retains the old name. However the flying training, Hobby flying & members flying continues at Juhu airport at Mumbai too.

References
  1. "Bombay Flying Club to open up the skies". The Times of India. 25 December 2003. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  2. "Bombay Flying Club "At Home"". Flight Global. 7 February 1930. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  3. "Bombay Flying Club First Annual Report". Flight Global. 1 August 1929. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  4. "Juhu Improvements". Flight Global. 28 October 1937. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  5. "Bombay Flying club moves court against AAI order". The Times of India. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  6. "Bombay Flying Club First Annual Report". Flight Global. 1 August 1929. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  7. "Busy city skies push flying club to Dhule". The Times of India. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
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