CHENNAI: Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft maker The ePlane Company said it has received design organisation approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). ePlane thus becomes the first Indian electric aircraft maker to obtain this approval, making the concept of electric air taxis to ferry passengers and cargo a reality by 2024.
The DOA is the first step in the aircraft certification process, and it paves the way for ePlane to begin commercial production of its e200 eVTOL aircraft. The e200 taxi is a piloted vehicle that takes off like a drone and flies like a plane, and 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.
