Rotorize Aviation, a startup co-founded by a Guwahati-based entrepreneur, is on a mission to make drone training accessible to everyone. Let’s find out the background story and the vision.
Bhaswati Kalita
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Think big, think fast, think ahead.
A visionary mind always thinks big and ahead. “In the next 5-6 years, everyone in India will be holding a drone,” thought Rakesh Rai, foreseeing the future. With a dream of becoming a pilot as a child—but ultimately as a drone pilot—he envisioned the potential of drone technology and founded Rotorize Aviation.
Sometimes, the biggest ideas come from the most unexpected moments. A simple observation, a gap in the market, and the drive to solve a problem can lead to something transformative. Let’s find out more about how Rotorize Aviation was started and how it will transform the drone industry landscape in India.
Outline of the story
Can a Marriage Party Be the Spark for a Business Idea?
It’s not every day that a wedding inspires a groundbreaking business idea. But for Rakesh Rai, the co-founder of Rotorize Aviation, it was at a marriage function that he first witnessed drones being used in an unconventional yet fascinating way.
This marked the inception of Dronasthra, which later co-founded Rotorize Aviation, a leading DGCA-approved drone training institute. Driven by the mission to democratize drone technology and education, it became the first RPTO (Remote Pilot Training Organization) established in a tribal belt. Gradually, it extended its reach to empower the underprivileged communities in and around Shahapur, Thane, making advanced training accessible to all.
Meet the Visionaries: Rakesh Rai and Gulshan Jalan
Rakesh Rai, a computer engineer by qualification, has always been passionate about technology and innovation. With experience spanning across multiple industries, he understood the need for structured drone education and industry-specific applications.
In 2016, he had the foresight of drones being in every hand by 2030. At a time when drones were not common for general use, his visionary mindset allowed him to see the future potential of this technology. Realizing that drones would become mainstream in 15 years in every hand, he began refining his ideas and exploring opportunities to establish a presence in the drone industry.
His keen eye for opportunities led him to establish Dronasthra, a company dedicated to the commercial use of drones, addressing critical challenges in data safety, security, and operational efficiency.
Gulshan Jalan: The Strategic Co-founder
Gulshan Jalan from Guwahati, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Rotorize Aviation, brings extensive experience across various industries. His strategic vision and expertise have been instrumental in driving Rotorize’s expansion into diverse domains, ensuring that drone training and services reach a wide audience.
Recognizing the potential of drone technology, he contributed to a key humanitarian project during the 2022 Assam floods, when Haflong station in the Dima Hasao district was completely submerged due to heavy rains and mudslides. By leveraging drone technology, he helped NF Railways reconstruct the damaged infrastructure more efficiently, showcasing the transformative impact of drones in critical situations.
The Genesis of Rotorize Aviation
During the first stint of experimentation with the first company, Rakesh and Gulshan encountered several challenges in the drone industry, including:
- Data safety and security issues
- Drone crash risks and compliance challenges
- Lack of trained professionals in GIS and land mapping applications
Recognizing the urgent need for structured drone training, they founded Rotorize Aviation—a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) -approved drone training institute aimed at bridging these gaps.
Three Verticals of the Drone Industry
The drone industry operates within three major verticals:
- Training – Educating and certifying drone pilots.
- Services – Providing drone-based solutions for industries.
- R&D and Manufacturing – Developing indigenous drone technology to manufacture within India.
Currently, Rotorize focuses on training and services, with plans to expand into research and development (R&D) and manufacturing in the near future.
Rotorize Aviation’s Training Programs
Rotorize Aviation offers a DGCA-approved drone pilot training program, but it goes beyond just flying a drone. Their curriculum is application-driven, ensuring trainees get real-world expertise in fields like GIS, land mapping, and security applications.
Key Features of the Training Program:
- DGCA-Certified Training: Trainees receive a DGCA-approved drone pilot license.
- Crash Management Training: Trainees learn essential skills on how to handle drone crashes and troubleshoot in real time.
- Hands-on Experience: trainees work on live projects with real-world applications.
- Industry Collaborations: Partnerships with Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and various state government projects to ensure practical exposure.
- Placement Opportunities: Direct employment and internship opportunities post-training.
How ALT Solves Industry Challenges
One of the biggest challenges in drone-based GIS and land mapping is accuracy and compliance. Rotorize Aviation is developing an advanced Application-Led Training (ALT) model that:
- Enhances precision in land surveying
- Addresses security compliance issues
- Ensures efficient orthomosaic data processing
- Provides high-quality aerial imagery for government and private sector projects
Rotorize’s Real-World Impact
Land Mapping Projects
The Rotorize team has actively participated in land mapping projects for:
- Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to optimize railway routes.
- Haflong flood reconstruction using drones.
- Various state government projects for infrastructure development.
These collaborations demonstrate Rotorize’s ability to train professionals and deploy drones for mission-critical operations.
The Vision: Making Drones a Household Technology
The team at Rotorize Aviation believes that within the next five years, drones will become as common as smartphones. Their mission is to train individuals across India to harness the power of drones effectively, ensuring:
- Safe and compliant usage
- Data security and protection
- Drones as an essential tool in multiple industries
Also read: Qoptars: Founded by two College dropouts from Assam, making the first autonomous drone in India
Future Roadmap: Expanding into R&D and Manufacturing
Rotorize is set to venture into R&D and drone manufacturing, contributing to India’s Make in India initiative. Some key milestones include:
- Developing indigenous drone models for security, agriculture, and industrial applications.
- Collaborating with defense and commercial sectors to advance drone technology.
- Enhancing regulatory compliance and security frameworks.
Challenges and the Path Ahead
As the drone industry continues to grow despite occasional setbacks, Rotorize Aviation sees a significant gap in efforts to establish a stable job market. They focus on training pilots across diverse trades and promoting awareness in academia, aiming to bridge the gap and drive the demand for certified drone pilots across various sectors.
Endnotes
Rotorize Aviation is revolutionizing the landscape of the drone pilot training. By empowering individuals with state-of-the-art drone education, collaborating on large-scale projects, and focusing on indigenous research and development, they are well on their way to shaping the future of drone technology in India.
Bhaswati Kalita is a business analyst and storyteller with years of experience in business operations, management, and marketing. She is an engineering graduate and started her professional career as an operations manager in a tech company. To follow her passion as a storyteller, she loves to write business articles and stories. Reach her at bhaswati@diversityassam.com.
