DAeC

DAeC, short for Deutscher Aero Club e.V., is the national umbrella organization for civil air sports in Germany. It serves as the German member body of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and coordinates sport aviation activities across its network of member clubs and regions. The association traces its origins to early German air sports organizations and today operates as a registered nonprofit association (e.V.).

The DAeC’s roles include representing pilots, coordinating training and safety standards, promoting air sport, and advocating for favorable airspace policies. It collaborates with national authorities and aviation regulators to ensure compliance with German law and European aviation rules. The organization administers licensing guidance, certifies club activities, and organizes or approves national competitions in disciplines such as gliding, hang gliding, paragliding, powered flight, ballooning, and model aviation. It also provides safety resources and offers insurance and member services to its clubs and individual members.

Organizationally, the DAeC is composed of regional clubs and associations. Members participate in a general assembly, which elects a board to govern the federation and set policy. As the German representative to the FAI, the DAeC coordinates international participation and the involvement of German pilots in world and continental events.

In its broader function, the DAeC engages with other air sport bodies and national authorities to support safe airspace use and the development of recreational and competitive aviation in Germany. The organization emphasizes safety, training, and the responsible conduct of air sports for pilots and clubs nationwide.