{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox university | name = Bombay Flying Club | image = | image_alt = | caption = | other_name = | motto = | type = Society | established = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1928|05|28}} | founder = | accreditation = Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) | affiliation = University of Mumbai | president = Mihir D. Bhagvati | principal = C. Kumar | director = | total_staff = | students = <!-- or |enrollment= --> | address = Juhu Aerodrome | city = Mumbai | state = Maharashtra | country = India | postalcode = 400056 | coordinates = | campus_type = | campus_size = <!-- use {{Convert}} --> | website = {{URL|thebombayflyingclub.com}} | logo = }}

The '''Bombay Flying Club''' is the oldest flying club in India, established in 1928, located at Juhu aerodrome, Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombay Flying Club to open up the skies |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-12-25/mumbai/27190104_1_bombay-flying-club-new-aviation-policy-aai |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072801/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-12-25/mumbai/27190104_1_bombay-flying-club-new-aviation-policy-aai |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |work=The Times of India |date=25 December 2003 |accessdate=12 June 2010 }}</ref> At present, the Bombay Flying Club's College of Aviation offers programs such as pilot training, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, and cabin crew, approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and also BSc Aviation and BSc Aeronautics programs with affiliation from the University of Mumbai.

==History== Bombay Flying Club was incorporated on 29 May 1928, and commenced instruction 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 a 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombay Flying Club "At Home" |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%200199.html |work=Flight Global |date=7 February 1930 |accessdate=17 September 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombay Flying Club First Annual Report |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/1929-1%20-%200670.html |work=Flight Global |date=1 August 1929 |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> This problem was solved by 1937.<ref>{{cite news |title=Juhu Improvements |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%202980.html |work=Flight Global |date=28 October 1937 |accessdate=17 September 2011}}</ref> The Club received its licence to build a hangar and garages at the aerodrome on 17 August 1931.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombay Flying club moves court against AAI order |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-03/mumbai/31280833_1_bombay-flying-club-aai-airports-authority |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710122922/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-03/mumbai/31280833_1_bombay-flying-club-aai-airports-authority |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |work=The Times of India |date=3 April 2012 |accessdate=24 April 2012 }}</ref>

JRD Tata, the father of Indian civil aviation, who received India's first pilot's licence, trained at this club in 1929. Lady Dinshaw Petit, his sister, became the first female to obtain a pilot licence in India.<ref> {{cite news |title=Bombay Flying Club First Annual Report |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/1929-1%20-%200670.html |work=Flight Global |date=1 August 1929 |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref>

==Current status== It currently owns one Cessna 152 Aerobat, five Cessna 172s of which one is equipped with a Garmin G1000 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Busy city skies push flying club to Dhule |url=http://www1.lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=9&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=24-05-2010&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai&edname=&articleid=Ar00900& |work=The Times of India |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=2 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516155717/http://www1.lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=9&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=24-05-2010&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai&edname=&articleid=Ar00900& |archive-date=16 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite the city's change of name, the club retains the old name; however, the flying training, hobby flying and members' flying continues at Juhu airport at Mumbai too.

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == *[http://www.thebombayflyingclub.com Bombay Flying Club] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20111114132356/http://www.desicolours.com/bombay-flying-club/12/11/2011 In Pics: Bombay Flying Club] *[https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/mumbai-girl-aarohi-first-to-fly-solo-over-atlantic/articleshow/69334058.cms Aarohi Pandit from the Bombay flying club]

Category:Aviation in India Category:Organisations based in Mumbai Category:Flying clubs Category:Aviation schools in India Category:1928 establishments in India Category:Sports organizations established in 1928