Bengaluru-based start-up Sarla Aviation, which is showcasing its prototype at the ongoing Invest Karnataka Summit in Bengaluru, is aiming to make it big in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft space. In fact, they are looking at launching operations in 2028.

eVTOL aircraft is a fully electric flying taxi which will be able to fly for around 160 kilometres on a single charge. The company has currently developed a complete prototype of a seven-seater eVTOL aircraft.

Sarla Aviation is named after Sarla Thakral, India’s first female pilot. In 1936, at just 21, Sarla earned her pilot’s license, fearlessly navigating an era when aviation was dominated by men. Her journey inspired countless others to dream big in the aviation field. The company plans to build flying taxis for mass transportation in India for faster intra-city commutes.

The three founders of the company come from aviation backgrounds—Shivam Chauhan had worked with Joby Aviation, and Rakesh Gaonkar and Adrian Schmidt had developed their expertise at Lilium GmbH in Germany.

“We are aiming for intra-city commute in Bengaluru. We require a few DGCA permits and clearance from them before we go in for large-scale production. It is completely developed and manufactured in India. It can fly at a height of 1,800 feet. eVTOLs are the need of the hour, and other companies in the field are planning to launch them in Dubai-UAE and in the US this year,” Amar Naik, head of design at Sarla Aviation, told THE WEEK.

During phase I of this launch in 2028 the company aims to have airport transfers in Bengaluru, especially on high-traffic routes like BLR Airport to Electronic City, reducing travel time from 2.5 hours by car to under 20 minutes. During this phase, the company is also aiming at free-of-cost, rapid-response medical transport to save lives.

In the future, the company is aiming at connecting organised places directly with each other. For instance, if one lives in a community with a landing pad on one’s building, one can fly to the office, school, university, city park, or even the cricket stadium with convenience.

The company claims that by 2035, flying taxis will become a mass transportation option. The company will connect thousands of Points of Interest, allowing people to travel from one place to another in no time.

The company claims that it has designed it for maximum utility, and though it can fly up to 160km, but is optimised for 20-30 KM trips. It can also achieve speeds up to 250 km per hour, transforming hour-long commutes into minute-long trips.