The Karachi Aero Club (G) Limited was established on the 28th of July 1928 and is the subcontinent’s first flying institution. It was formed by an association of person’s whose common goal was to instruct the members of the club and others in the art of flying and the science of aeronautics. Ever since it’s inception it has worked ceaselessly towards the promotion of all branches of aviation and has established itself as a center of information and advice on all matters pertaining to aeronautics.
Until the 1960’s the Karachi Aero Club had been operating from a purpose-built site in what is now known as Gulshan-e-Iqbal, with it’s own runway and hangar facilities. In addition to recreational flying activities and charter services the club provided other sporting facilities such as a golf course, horse riding school and skeet shooting range. It was regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in the country as evidenced by its members which comprised of almost all the elite families in Pakistan, senior government functionaries, foreign attaches and senior executives of multinational companies.
Many of these members owned their own aircraft which were maintained and serviced by the club. In the 1960’s the club was obliged to surrender its land for a greater national cause and moved its flight operations to the BOAC steel hangar and apron facilities at Karachi Airport. Hangar No. 301 was appointed to the Karachi Aero Club as an Engineering facility, and is still our base of operations till this day. The clubhouse is still owned and maintained at it’s original site in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and is used as a recreational facility by members.
The Karachi Aero Club has trained scores of Pilots and Engineers who have gone on to have successful careers within the national flag carrier and numerous private airlines both foreign and domestic. It also has to it’s credit, the basic flying training of Pakistan Air Force pilots in it’s days of infancy. Some of the officers trained by the club rose to the highest ranks in the Pakistan Air Force. The Karachi Aero Club was also responsible for training pilots for the Army and Navy aviation wings until the 1980’s.
