Amber Wings Secures DGCA Type Certification for Hybrid Cargo Drone ATVA-1
Chennai | July 18, 2025
Amber Wings has received Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India for its hybrid cargo drone ATVA-1, marking a major regulatory milestone in India’s commercial drone ecosystem.
With this certification, Amber Wings becomes the first Indian startup to receive approval for a hybrid cargo drone platform under India’s Drone Rules, 2021. The approval authorises ATVA-1 for 24/7 commercial operations, including night flying, a distinction no other cargo drone operator in India has achieved to date.
Introducing ATVA-1: Hybrid VTOL Cargo Platform
ATVA-1 is a fixed-wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drone designed for long-range, high-efficiency logistics missions.
Key Specifications:
- Payload Capacity : Up to 2 kg
- Maximum Range : 60 km (straight-line conditions)
- Tested Range (Fully Loaded) : 55+ km
- Wingspan : 1.7 metres
- Operations : Approved for round-the-clock commercial use
The platform was developed through six prototype iterations and validated with 10,000+ km of cumulative flight testing, demonstrating endurance, reliability, and operational robustness.
Precision Urban Logistics with RTK Landing
ATVA-1 features Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning, enabling precise rooftop landings — a critical capability for dense Indian cities.
Unlike international drone models that deploy aerial package drops, Amber Wings has intentionally designed its system to:
- Land safely on designated rooftops
- Hand over parcels to human delivery partners
- Maintain cultural and urban safety alignment
This approach enhances safety, regulatory compliance, and customer trust while unlocking urban logistics use cases.
Two DGCA-Certified Platforms
With ATVA-1’s certification, Amber Wings now operates two DGCA-certified drone platforms:
- ATVA-1 – Hybrid VTOL logistics drone
- Vihaa – 10-litre agritech drone capable of spraying up to 30 acres per day
Both platforms have been developed under the parent entity Ubifly Technologies Pvt Ltd, which also houses The ePlane Company, the IIT Madras-incubated urban air mobility startup focused on manned eVTOL aircraft.
Amber Wings operates as the dedicated drone vertical within the Ubifly ecosystem.
Quick Commerce, Medical & B2B Logistics Focus
Following certification, Amber Wings will launch pilot deployments across India, focusing on:
- Quick commerce logistics
- Medical supply transport
- E-commerce delivery
- B2B industrial supply chains
Initial pilots will prioritise green zones and Tier II & III cities, where airspace restrictions are relatively limited.
Regulatory Roadmap: BVLOS & Yellow Zone Access
To unlock nationwide scale, Amber Wings is progressing toward two critical regulatory approvals:
1️⃣ Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
Current regulations restrict long-distance drone operations. Amber Wings is developing a three-tier tracking system combining:
This architecture will enable real-time monitoring and safe long-range operations, paving the way for intercity logistics corridors.
2️⃣ Yellow Zone Operations
Amber Wings is preparing to operate in controlled airspace near cities and airports, where commercial demand is strongest. Advanced real-time tracking and compliance systems are being built to meet regulatory safety requirements.
Expanding the Heavy-Lift Portfolio
Beyond ATVA-1, Amber Wings is actively developing a next-generation logistics fleet:
- ATVA-2 – 6+ kg payload hybrid drone (testing targeted for September 2025)
- Multi-50 – Multicopter platform for 50+ kg payloads
- e50 & e100 – Hybrid VTOL systems targeting 50–100 kg fast logistics over longer distances
The company is also finalising a manufacturing partnership to scale production and is preparing for a Series A raise in the $30–50 million range.
Building India’s Drone-First Logistics Ecosystem
The DGCA certification of ATVA-1 is a foundational step in Amber Wings’ broader mission:
- Enable safe, compliant 24/7 drone logistics
- Build indigenous hybrid VTOL platforms
- Integrate aerial mobility into India’s supply chain infrastructure
- Advance regulatory-ready autonomous systems
With certified hardware, validated flight hours, and a scalable roadmap, Amber Wings is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s commercial drone transformation.
