Govt ready to build policy for e-VTOL: Rajeev Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
The ministry to commission a study on e-VTOL study soon
After building the drone ecosystem and a policy for helicopters, a policy ecosystem for the e-VTOLS (electric vertical; take-off and landing systems) is the next frontier for the government, said Civil Aviation Secretary Mr Rajeev Bansal while speaking at the CII Advanced Short Haul Air (ASHA) Mobility 2023 conference on Monday at Bengaluru.
“After Production Linked Scheme for drones is being rolled out this month, we are now ready to take the next big steps in the e-VTOL system” said Mr Bansal. He said the ministry would soon commission a study in the e-VTOL space to understand it better.
E-VTOL is a type of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. This technology came about after advances in electric propulsion (motors, batteries, fuel cells, electronic controllers) and the need for aerial vehicles technology for urban air mobility that can enable greener and quieter flights. The Secretary indicated that e-VTOL is the next big air-mobility space to focus on after drones.
“Two years back we started building the drone ecosystem. In 2021, after intense industry consultations, a set of initiatives were taken to liberalise the drone ecosystem, to put in place drone rules, a digital skymap, a regulatory system to regulate the growth of drones, policy initiatives, regulate growth of remote pilot system, certification of drones, financial incentives for drone manufacturing called Production Linked Initiatives. In one and half years, we already have 15 certified drones today, and another five in pipeline with Directorate General of Civil Aviation. I expect this number to go upto 50 in next one to two years” said Mr Bansal. India. also released a dedicated policy for helicopters in 2021.
He said e-VTOL is the next technology that the ministry will focus on as it has applications that address both densely populated urban spaces as well as sparsely populated remote lands and smaller cities and towns.
Noting that event will set the tone for policy brainstorming in the e-VTOL space, Mr Bansal asked “What (does) the industry expect the states and the government to do? Do you want the government to facilitate the setting up of offices, setting up studies, manufacturing units, air traffic management, management of air space between manned and unmanned vehicles,” asked Mr Bansal, speaking at the first edition of ASHA conference. The e-VTOL is being pegged as a solution by aviation experts which may contribute to India’s progression towards net-zero goals, if it is tapped properly.
Mr Bansal called for studying the global protocols around the space and defining roles and responsibility of various government and regulatory bodies such as Defence Ministry, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airport Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which is the safety regulator, among others. “The evolution of Advanced Air Mobility as a mass transit platform would also need development of other tech platforms in the ecosystem. As an example, Traffic management system with an automated ATC providing directions to craft would facilitate efficiency and safety,” said Mr Amit Datta, Chairman of CII Taskforce for Short Haul Air Mobility.
27 March 2023
Bengaluru