NextGen Engineers Adding to India’s Aerospace Ecosystem

The story of NextLeap Aeronautics is rooted in global experience but driven by a deeply local ambition, to build India’s place in the future of aviation. Its founders, Alvin Anthony and Thaariq Ahmad, represent a new generation of engineers who chose to return home and create, rather than continue contributing to established ecosystems abroad.

Alvin Anthony’s early career placed him at the heart of cutting-edge aircraft development with Airbus. Working across flagship programs such as the A320, A330, A350, and the iconic A380, he gained deep exposure to the lifecycle of modern aircraft—from design and testing to certification and commissioning. His time in Toulouse, Airbus’s global hub, further sharpened his understanding of large-scale aviation systems, including certification work and exposure to specialized logistics aircraft like the Beluga XL. These experiences offered a rare, inside view of how mature aerospace ecosystems function with precision and scale.

Complementing this was Thaariq Ahmad’s journey into propulsion engineering. After beginning at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), he moved to the UK to work with Rolls-Royce in Derby. There, he specialized in critical engine subsystems such as heat exchangers and turbine assemblies, contributing to advanced programs like UltraFan. His work placed him at the forefront of next-generation propulsion technologies, giving him both technical depth and a global perspective on where aviation was headed.

Despite thriving careers, both founders shared a growing realization: India, while rich in engineering talent, lacked a robust indigenous commercial aviation ecosystem. This gap was not new. As early as 2008, during their time at NAL, discussions had emerged around developing a 120–130-seater aircraft—an idea that today aligns perfectly with the dominant segment in Indian aviation, led by carriers like IndiGo. Yet, structural challenges, ranging from inconsistent policy support to funding limitations, meant such ambitions never fully materialized.

The contrast with countries like China, which steadily invested in domestic aviation capabilities, was hard to ignore. For Anthony and Ahmad, this was not just an observation but a call to action. By 2018–19, they made the bold decision to leave behind stable international careers and return to India.

The result was NextLeap Aeronautics. Founded with limited resources but a clear vision, the company set its sights on electric aviation, a sector poised to redefine how people move within and between cities. Their idea was forward-looking: develop electric aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, designed for urban mobility in congested, infrastructure-strained environments like India.

The timing was critical. Globally, the aviation industry was beginning to pivot toward sustainability, autonomy, and short-haul aerial mobility. NextLeap positioned itself at this intersection, focusing on technologies that could enable faster, cleaner, and more efficient air transport.

Early collaborations helped validate their approach. An MoU with NAL brought institutional backing, while support from the government signaled growing recognition of the sector’s potential. What began as a leap of faith gradually evolved into a structured effort to build a new aviation category from India.

For Anthony and Ahmad, NextLeap Aeronautics is more than a startup. It is an attempt to ensure that India does not miss the next wave of aerospace innovation. If earlier opportunities slipped by, aerospace technologies (including electric aviation) offers a second chance. And this time, they have positioned themselves to be in the thick of things.

The early years of the venture were defined not by momentum, but by uncertainty. When the pandemic hit, operations came to a near standstill. Aerospace, by its very nature, depends heavily on physical infrastructure, testing environments, and face-to-face collaboration. With global lockdowns in place, progress froze.

At one point, the situation became so precarious that the founders had to prepare for the worst, advising team members to seek opportunities elsewhere, unsure if the company could sustain itself through an indefinite slowdown. That is all history now and NextLeap, thanks to these two bright engineers, is poised for a take-off.