Published on: October 26, 2024

AIR TAXI SERVICE IN BENGALURU

AIR TAXI SERVICE IN BENGALURU

NEWS – Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has partnered with Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based startup, to launch electric air taxi services for airport transfers. Sarla Aviation is named after Sarla Thakral, India’s first licensed female pilot, commemorating her achievement from 1936.

HIGHLIGHTS

 Service Details

  • Route and Pricing: The air taxi service will connect Electronics City to Kempegowda International Airport at a fare of ₹1,700 per trip.
  • Commute Time: Expected travel time is a swift 19 minutes, offering a faster alternative to road transport.

Aircraft Technology and Safety

  • eVTOL Aircraft: Sarla Aviation uses electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) technology designed for short urban commutes of 20-40 kilometers with a range up to 160 kilometers.
  • Enhanced Safety Measures:
    • Sarla Aviation’s aircraft are claimed to be “100 times safer than helicopters” due to the absence of single points of failure.
    • Equipped with seven propellers, the aircraft can maintain balance even if one propeller fails.
    • Multiple redundancy systems (3-5 layers) are built into critical components to ensure safety.

Infrastructure and Development Plans

  • Airport Infrastructure: The collaboration will involve BIAL and Sarla Aviation working together to develop airport infrastructure, operational models, and user flow systems to support seamless air taxi services.
  • Building Regulations and Available Infrastructure:
    • Karnataka’s regulations require buildings over 60 meters to have helipads, facilitating ready infrastructure for urban air taxis.
    • Support from state and central government authorities is noted as instrumental in the project’s progression.

Operational Timeline and Cost Efficiency

  • Expected Launch Timeline: Sarla Aviation aims to make the air taxi service operational within the next two to three years.
  • Cost Efficiency Goals:
    • The startup is optimistic about maintaining affordable fares due to reductions in battery and powertrain costs, along with improved capacity in recent years.