Air India, SkyDrive, Suzuki sign pact to study eVTOL aircraft use for medical logistics

Mumbai: Air India Ltd on Friday signed an initial pact with global eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft developer and manufacturer SkyDrive, and Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan to conduct a joint feasibility study on the use of eVTOL aircraft for medical air logistics in India.

The proposed collaboration comes amid India's major cities face severe traffic congestion, creating significant challenges for time-critical medical logistics, according to a company release.

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By combining SkyDrive's eVTOL technology, Air India's operational expertise and Suzuki's India market insight, the three companies aim to develop last-mile emergency medical logistics solutions, contributing to the advancement of India's medical infrastructure, it said.

"India is today one of the world's largest and fastest-growing aviation markets, and we see advanced air mobility as a natural extension of the country's transport ecosystem. The potential application of eVTOL aircraft for medical air logistics is particularly compelling because it combines technology and purpose, helping to reduce critical transit times when every minute can make a difference," said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo of Air India Limited.

Air India Ltd will contribute to this feasibility study with its operational expertise, airport infrastructure knowledge, and stakeholder relationships to help evaluate and develop a framework for safe, reliable, and scalable eVTOL operations, he added.

"We are partnering with Air India and Suzuki to take a step toward medical logistics, a sector where every second counts and lives can be saved. In India, where chronic congestion is a pressing issue, utilising eVTOLs for advanced medical logistics, including the transport of high-value, time-critical medical supplies, will reshape medical infrastructure," said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive Inc.

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The eVTOL aircraft being developed by SkyDrive, with which Suzuki is engaged in business and technology collaboration, represents a new form of mobility that embodies Suzuki's philosophy of 'Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, and Neater)', said Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager, Next Generation Business Development of Suzuki Motor Corporation

"We believe it has the potential to play a role in supporting medical infrastructure in urban areas. Suzuki will continue to provide diverse mobility options tailored to customers' needs and contribute to regional development," he said.