Former Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal Joins Sarla Aviation as Managing Director

Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based air taxi startup, has appointed Rajiv Bansal, former civil aviation secretary and former Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, as its Managing Director and Advisor to lead regulatory advisory and strategy development towards certification. Bansal's extensive experience spanning over three decades in civil aviation policy and operations is expected to be instrumental in guiding Sarla as it transitions from deep engineering to real-world deployment and flight testing of its prototype electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Shunya. Co-Founder and CEO Adrian Schmidt emphasized that Bansal's leadership will help mature processes and shape certification strategies as Sarla aims to become India’s first privately held full-stack aviation original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The company plans to launch electric flying taxis in Bangalore by 2028 and is focused on scaling operations, engaging with airports and city governments, and navigating regulatory pathways for commercial deployment. Sarla Aviation is backed by Accel and continues to innovate with its Shunya prototype, which offers the highest payload capacity in the market, accommodating up to six passengers. This strategic appointment marks a significant milestone in Sarla's mission to pioneer safe, accessible urban air mobility solutions in India.