Rajiv Bansal joins Sarla Aviation as regulatory advisor and strategist
The announcement marks a key development in Sarla’s goal of building India’s next-generation eVTOL aircraft.
Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation has appointed Rajiv Bansal, former Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and former Managing Director of Air India, to lead its regulatory strategy and policy alignment as the company prepares to scale operations and transition to commercial deployment.
The announcement marks a key development in Sarla’s goal of building India’s next-generation electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for both passenger and cargo use.
Bansal, who has more than three decades of experience in aviation policy and operations, will serve as a regulatory advisor, focusing on certification roadmaps, airworthiness strategy, and engagement with regulatory bodies and government stakeholders. His appointment comes at a time when Sarla is moving from engineering development to flight testing and real-world use cases.
“Sarla’s bold, full-stack approach – designing, engineering and building next-gen aircraft entirely in India – represents both national strength and tech leadership,” Bansal said. “I’m proud to support a team that’s thinking long-term, building fearlessly, and setting a new benchmark for Indian innovation.”
Sarla Aviation’s flagship prototype, Shunya, is a six-seater electric aircraft designed for urban air mobility. It includes a cargo variant capable of carrying up to 680 kg with dual-side loading and a standardised platform to support logistics operations. The aircraft is intended to address not only urban commuting needs but also last-mile and mid-mile cargo delivery, offering a potential alternative to road-based freight systems in congested cities.
Adrian Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation, said, “His experience and leadership at the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be instrumental in helping us mature our processes, shape our certification strategy, and strengthen our approach as we build India’s first privately held full-stack aviation OEM.”
The appointment follows Sarla’s $10 million Series A1 funding round in January 2025, led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath, with participation from angel investors including Binny Bansal and Sriharsha Majety. The funds are being used to accelerate test flights, build additional prototypes, and establish a research and development centre.
Sarla Aviation aims to launch commercial services by 2028, including cargo operations and a free-of-cost air ambulance service. Founded in 2023, the company is positioning its aircraft as a cost-effective and scalable solution for urban transport and logistics, aligned with India’s broader goals under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
