Electric aircraft startup The ePlane Company, incubated at IIT-Madras, has announced a partnership with Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group to advance the commercialization of its electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The collaboration will focus on deployment in India, the UAE, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Empire Aviation Group will provide expertise in aviation operations, including safety protocols, standard operating procedures, and fleet management, to support the market entry of ePlane’s eVTOL aircraft, according to a company press release. The group is also considering a potential investment in ePlane’s next funding round.
ePlane aims to launch its first commercial eVTOL flight by 2026. One aircraft variant is expected to enter the market by the end of that year, with a second variant following based on additional certification and flight testing requirements, CEO Satya Chakravarthy said.
In addition to the partnership with Empire Aviation, ePlane recently signed an agreement to supply 788 air ambulances worth over $1 billion to International Critical-Care Air Transfer Team (ICATT) for deployment across districts in India. The company has also partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for battery life cycle modeling, demand estimation, and operational optimization.
For production, ePlane plans to start with a limited series to optimize manufacturing parameters before scaling up with a production partner. Discussions are ongoing with various state governments regarding potential locations and incentives for setting up manufacturing facilities.
Chakravarthy also highlighted the employment opportunities that could arise from the eVTOL ecosystem, including roles in paramedic services, ground operations, charging infrastructure, maintenance, and aircraft production.
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