The ePlane Company Gets Design Organisation Approval From DGCA

The DOA is a crucial first step in the aircraft certification process and it paves the way for ePlane to begin commercial production of its e200 eVTOL aircraft

The ePlane Company, a leading developer of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced that it has received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in an event on Monday. 

The DOA is a crucial first step in the aircraft certification process and it paves the way for ePlane to begin commercial production of its e200 eVTOL aircraft. 

With the DOA Certificate in hand, ePlane is poised to continue its groundbreaking work in developing safe, efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft for the future, the company said in a statement. 

The ePlane Company hosted the dignitaries from the DGCA and IIT Madras at a special ceremony to announce the awarding of the certificate. 

On the occasion, the DGCA dignitaries and Prof V Kamakoti, the Director of IIT Madras, presented the Design Organisation Approval to Prof Satya and the ePlane team. The DGCA team also visited the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) at the IIT Madras Campus to gain insights into ePlane’s ongoing work and progress.

Subsequently, they toured the ePlane Manufacturing Facility followed by the Director General’s address and a small celebration to mark the occasion at the IITM Discovery Campus in Thaiyur.

Founder and CEO of ePlane Company, Prof Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy said, “We are delighted to receive the DOA certificate from the DGCA. This is a major milestone for our company, it is a crucial first step in the aircraft certification process and paves another stone on the path towards commercialisation of our e200 eVTOL aircraft. It gives us immense pleasure to announce that ePlane is the first startup in India to be approved as a Design Organisation and one of the very few private entities for complete aircraft design.”

“The certification brings us a step closer towards our mission to ensure safe passenger flights in India and the world. We are grateful for the support of DGCA and IIT Madras in helping us to achieve this milestone,” he added.

Vikram Dev Dutt, Director General, DGCA conveyed his enthusiasm about visiting The ePlane Company’s facility. He said, “We are thrilled to witness the rapid growth and vast potential of the UAV and eVTOL ecosystem in India. ePlane has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to meeting stringent aircraft certification norms, reflecting their exceptional calibre and innovative approach.”

The ePlane Company is pursuing to development of India’s first and the world’s most compact flying electric taxi, designed for up to 10x faster intra-city commute and cargo transport. 

The ePlane e200 is a two-seater aircraft that is designed to operate in urban spaces. With a travel range of 200 km, it can make multiple stops on a single charge, saving consumers a significant amount of time. The company intends to make door-to-door flying a reality, redefine how we currently commute, and help people save a significant amount of time daily.