Civil Aviation Minister Naidu Meets Nalwa Aero Team After Successful Flight Test of Electric Box-Wing eVTOL
Why It MattersA DGCA design approval in the five-seater-plus eVTOL category gives India a domestic entrant in advanced air mobility, though certification and commercial operating clearances remain separate steps.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu met the team of Nalwa Aero, an Indian aerospace startup developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In a post on X, he welcomed the successful flight testing of the startup's electric box-wing aircraft and said Indian innovations could redefine air travel. He pointed to the potential of eVTOL technology for flying taxis, air ambulances and cargo flights.
Nalwa Aero, a startup associated with Atal Incubation Centre T-Hub, is the first Indian company to secure the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) Design Organisation Approval in the five-seater-plus eVTOL category. The approval recognises the organisation's design capabilities within its authorised scope. It is distinct from aircraft type certification and from approval for commercial operations.
Further testing and regulatory clearances would be required before commercial operations can begin.
