The ePlane Company, incubated at IIT Madras, has become the first private Indian company accepted into the DGCA’s type certification pipeline for electric air taxis. The company’s e200X aircraft is being developed for urban air mobility.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had earlier issued airworthiness criteria for vertical take-off and landing capable aircraft. ePlane received Design Organisation Approval from the regulator. It is the first private Indian aerospace firm to reach this stage.

The e200X is a compact electric aircraft with a patented small footprint. It is designed to fly from rooftops and existing helipads. The company says it is 35 per cent more energy efficient than conventional designs. The first commercial use will be air ambulances, which could cut critical medical transport times by up to seven times.

The company has also signed an agreement with Apollo Hospitals for eVTOL air ambulances and medical delivery drones. Founder Satya Chakravarthy said the certification strategy follows standards harmonised with European and US aviation regulators.