Sarla Aviation Gets DGCA Design Approval

Sarla Aviation received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 8 August 2026. The approval was handed over by Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu at the inauguration of the company’s new headquarters in Bengaluru.

Design Organisation Approval in Indian Aviation

Design Organisation Approval is a regulatory authorisation granted by the DGCA for aircraft design activities in India. The approval is used for aerospace firms that develop aircraft structures, systems, and related design documentation under civil aviation rules.

Sarla Aviation became India’s third eVTOL Design Organisation Approval holder in 2026. eVTOL stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing, a category of aircraft designed for vertical lift and electric propulsion.

Sarla Aviation and eVTOL Development

Sarla Aviation was founded in October 2023 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan. The Bengaluru-based startup is backed by Accel, Binny Bansal, and Nikhil Kamath.

The company’s eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry six passengers and one pilot. The aircraft uses seven electric motors for lift and forward propulsion.

In July 2026, Sarla Aviation completed the flight-test campaign for “Sylla”, a half-scale eVTOL technology demonstrator. The demonstrator was used for early-stage testing before full-scale development.

Urban Air Mobility and Testing Timeline

The Indian government has set a target of operational electric air taxis in congested metropolitan areas such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi by 2028. The DGCA is expected to monitor the testing and flight-test phase of the aircraft in 2027.

Urban air mobility uses small aircraft, including eVTOL platforms, for short-distance transport in cities. Electric propulsion, vertical takeoff, and reduced runway dependence are key technical features of this aircraft class.

Important Facts for Exams

• DGCA stands for Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which regulates civil aviation safety in India.
• eVTOL aircraft combine electric propulsion with vertical takeoff and landing capability.
• India’s first commercial air taxi plans have focused on high-density urban corridors.
• “Sylla” is Sarla Aviation’s half-scale technology demonstrator for eVTOL testing.

Design Organisation Approval is a formal certification linked to aircraft design capability under civil aviation oversight. Bengaluru is a major Indian hub for aerospace, aviation, and deep-tech startups.