Air India Limited (AI), SkyDrive Inc., and Suzuki Motor Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 31, 2026, to evaluate the use of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for emergency medical logistics across India. The partnership targets the country’s severe urban traffic congestion by exploring how advanced air mobility can reduce transit times for critical medical supplies.

In a press release issued on July 31, 2026, SkyDrive detailed the joint feasibility study, which will focus on deploying the manufacturer’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. The collaboration brings together Air India’s aviation and airport infrastructure expertise, SkyDrive’s aircraft development, and Suzuki’s manufacturing and mobility experience to build a framework for scalable medical air transport.

Addressing urban congestion with medical air logistics

The feasibility study aims to establish a reliable network for transporting high-value, time-sensitive medical supplies in Indian cities where chronic traffic congestion delays ground transport.

“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 at Air India Limited.

Mamidala noted that the airline will contribute operational expertise and stakeholder relationships to evaluate safe operations. SkyDrive Founder and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa emphasized the life-saving potential of the technology in congested environments.

“In India, where chronic congestion is a pressing issue, utilizing eVTOLs for advanced medical logistics including the transport of high-value, time-critical medical supplies will reshape medical infrastructure,” Fukuzawa stated.

Suzuki’s role and broader eVTOL expansion

Suzuki Motor Corporation, which already maintains a business and technology collaboration with SkyDrive, will assist in integrating the eVTOL platform into broader urban mobility networks. Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager of Next Generation Business Development at Suzuki, stated that the aircraft aligns with the company’s philosophy of creating smaller, lighter, and more efficient transport options.

The Indian partnership follows a period of rapid expansion for SkyDrive’s regional footprint. According to reporting by Aviation International News, SkyDrive signed a separate MoU on July 23, 2026, with Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited and Thai partners to develop an eVTOL roadmap for routes in Sri Racha, Bangkok, and Koh Samui.

Aviation International News also reported that in late July 2026, the Japanese government officially designated eVTOL aircraft as a key technology within the Aviation and Space Strategic Field of its national growth strategy.

AirPro News analysis

We view the specific focus on medical logistics as a pragmatic entry point for eVTOL operations in India. While passenger air taxi services face significant regulatory and public acceptance hurdles, emergency medical transport offers a clear, high-value use case that justifies the initial infrastructure investment. By partnering with an established national carrier like Air India and a mass-market manufacturer like Suzuki, SkyDrive is positioning its SD-05 platform to navigate both the operational complexities of Indian airspace and the manufacturing scale required for commercial viability.

Sources: SkyDrive Inc.

This is original reporting and analysis by AirPro News.

On July 23, 2026, French aerospace Startups Positive Aviation received the first 17-meter composite scooping float for its FF72-X1 amphibious firefighting demonstrator. The Delivery marks a critical industrial milestone in the company’s effort to convert the Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) 72-600 regional turboprop into a high-capacity water scooper capable of replacing the out-of-production Canadair CL-415.

In an official statement, Positive Aviation confirmed the transfer of the 1.2-metric-ton float from the Manufacturing facility of naval composite specialist Multiplast in Vannes, France, to the Airbus Technocentre in Nantes. The component will undergo initial assembly in Nantes before final integration onto the ATR 72 airframe at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). The project aims to address a growing global shortage of purpose-built aerial firefighting assets.

Engineering the FF72 scooping system

The FF72 program centers on modifying an existing ATR 72-600 airframe rather than designing a clean-sheet aircraft. Positive Aviation Chief Executive Officer Laurent Schmitt noted that building a new Canadair equivalent from scratch presents a colossal challenge, driving the strategy to adapt the proven ATR 72 platform for amphibious operations.

The newly delivered floats are designed to withstand immense hydrodynamic forces. During operation, the FF72 will scoop water at speeds of 180 km/h, filling its 8-metric-ton (2,100-gallon) tanks in just 12 seconds. To achieve this, Positive Aviation partnered with Multiplast, a firm known for constructing high-performance racing yachts. Schmitt highlighted that the collaboration merges aeronautical precision with naval expertise in composite materials, ensuring the floats can endure the stresses of high-speed aquatic environments. The successful delivery of the first float was managed jointly by Elyssa Bejaoui of Positive Aviation and Maeg Lehoux of Multiplast.

Commercial backing and development timeline

The FF72 development is supported by an €8 million fundraising round completed on June 30, 2025, which financed the creation of the FF72-X1 demonstrator. The program has also secured early commercial interest from North-America operators. On March 25, 2025, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become the launch customer, committing to 10 aircraft with options for 10 more. Bridger Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Sam Davis stated that the FF72 will be a valuable addition to their fleet amid increasing global demand for year-round aerial firefighting resources.

With the first float now in the assembly phase, Positive Aviation is targeting early 2027 for the commencement of the flight and water test campaign. The company plans to present the FF72-X1 demonstrator at the Paris Air Show in June 2027. Regulatory certification is targeted for 2028, with entry into service and initial deliveries to Bridger Aerospace projected for the 2029 wildfire season.

AirPro News analysis

We view the FF72 program as a highly pragmatic approach to a severe capability gap in the aerial firefighting sector. The cessation of Canadair CL-415 production left operators with aging fleets and few direct replacements. By leveraging the established ATR 72-600 supply chain and airframe, Positive Aviation bypasses the most capital-intensive phases of clean-sheet Commercial-Aircraft development.

The structural integration of 17-meter floats onto a commercial turboprop introduces significant aerodynamic and hydrodynamic complexities. The upcoming 2027 water testing phase will be the definitive proving ground for the structural integrity of the Multiplast composites and the modified airframe’s handling characteristics during the critical 12-second scooping maneuver. If successful, the FF72 could rapidly capture a substantial share of the global aerial firefighting market.

Sources: Positive Aviation

India-based electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) developer The ePlane Company has secured five strategic manufacturing and technology Partnerships to support the industrialization and Certification of its e200X aircraft.

Announced in a press release during the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA 2026), the agreements cover critical systems ranging from Avionics and composite structures to medical interiors. The supply chain expansion follows the recent unveiling of the company’s full-scale PT-01 prototype at its 60,000-square-foot facility in Chennai, positioning the Manufacturers for targeted certified test flights by mid-2027.

Building the e200X supply chain

To transition the e200X from prototype to a certifiable production aircraft, The ePlane Company formalized agreements with specialized aerospace suppliers to provide core components and systems:

• SASMOS HET Technologies: Supplying Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) to support the aircraft’s high-voltage architecture.
• HENSOLDT Avionics: Providing flight deck and navigation systems.
• Azista Composites Private Limited: Manufacturing lightweight composite aerostructures.
• Ankit Aerospace Private Limited: Supplying aerospace-grade fasteners and hardware.
• AMS Heli Design: Developing specialized medical interiors.

“These partnerships reflect the strength and depth of the ecosystem we’re building around the e200X. From wiring and fasteners to avionics, composites, and interiors, each of these relationships strengthens our path toward a certifiable, Made-in-India electric aircraft,” stated Prof. Satya Chakravarthy, Founder and CTO of The ePlane Company.

Chakravarthy added that selecting established technology partners is a fundamental requirement for developing a certifiable aircraft, specifically noting that SASMOS brings necessary expertise in EWIS integration as the program progresses toward commercialization.

Technical specifications and medical applications

The e200X is designed as a compact passenger and cargo eVTOL aircraft. According to technical specifications provided by the manufacturer, the aircraft features a maximum gross weight of 2,200 kg and utilizes an 800V electric powertrain. It is engineered for an operational range of 110 km on a single charge, with a cruising speed of 160 km/h. The cabin accommodates a 200 kg payload, configured for one pilot and two passengers.

The partnership with AMS Heli Design directly supports The ePlane Company’s parallel initiative to develop an electric air ambulance network. On July 23, 2026, the manufacturer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited to integrate the e200X into India’s emergency healthcare system, targeting reduced response times for critical care transport.

Certification pathway and prototype validation

The ePlane Company is currently the first private aerospace entity in India to hold a formal Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for electric aircraft. The e200X is also the first eVTOL accepted into the DGCA’s official type certification pipeline.

Prior to the Farnborough announcements, the company unveiled the PT-01, a full-scale prototype featuring a carbon fiber airframe and NVIDIA IGX Thor compute architecture. The aircraft is currently undergoing ground testing.

Chakravarthy noted that the PT-01 transitions the program from subscale testing to full-scale validation, building on flight trials of the company’s e50 heavy-lift drone which validated the scaling data now being applied to the passenger aircraft.

AirPro News analysis

We view The ePlane Company’s Farnborough announcements as a necessary maturation step for India’s domestic Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector. While unveiling a prototype demonstrates engineering capability, securing established aerospace suppliers like HENSOLDT and SASMOS indicates a shift toward the rigorous realities of DGCA type certification. The specific inclusion of AMS Heli Design for medical interiors also suggests a pragmatic early-use case. Air ambulance operations often provide a more viable initial revenue stream for eVTOL operators than urban air taxi services, given the higher tolerance for operational costs in emergency medical transport.

Sources: The ePlane Company via PR Newswire