en.Wedoany.com Reported - Air India, Japan's SkyDrive Inc., and Suzuki Motor Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a joint feasibility study on the use of eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft for medical aviation logistics in India.
Major Indian cities have long faced severe traffic congestion, posing significant challenges to time-sensitive medical logistics. In this collaboration, the three parties will leverage their respective strengths: SkyDrive will provide eVTOL aircraft technology, Air India will contribute aviation operational expertise, and Suzuki Motor will offer local insights based on its understanding of the Indian market. The joint study focuses on exploring the feasibility of using eVTOL for last-mile emergency medical logistics, providing a supplementary solution for India's healthcare infrastructure development.
Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo at Air India, stated that India is already one of the largest and fastest-growing aviation markets globally, and advanced air mobility is viewed as a natural extension of the country's transportation ecosystem. He noted that the application of eVTOL aircraft in medical aviation logistics combines technology with the mission of saving lives, reducing transport times during critical moments where every minute can impact outcomes. Air India will contribute its operational expertise, airport infrastructure knowledge, and stakeholder relationship resources to this study, assisting in evaluating and building a safe, reliable, and scalable eVTOL operational framework.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive, stated that India's persistent congestion problem is urgent, and leveraging eVTOL for advanced logistics of high-value, time-critical medical supplies has the potential to reshape the local healthcare infrastructure landscape. Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager of Next-Generation Business Development at Suzuki Motor, stated that the eVTOL aircraft developed by SkyDrive embodies Suzuki's "Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Neater)" philosophy and has the potential to support medical infrastructure in urban areas. Through collaboration with mobility companies such as SkyDrive and Air India, Suzuki aims to achieve "infrastructure mobility closely connected to people's lives."
