BluJ Aero, a developer of long-range VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, and Blade India, urban air mobility company, have formed a partnership for buying 60 VTOL aircraft, including 50 BluJ REACH cargo aircraft and 10 BluJ HOP passenger aircraft.
BluJ Aero is based in Hyderabad while Blade India is a joint venture between Blade USA and Hunch Ventures. Its fleet includes helicopters and private charters, with services in states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa.
The BluJ REACH would be a game-changer for mid-mile logistics, the BluJ Aero said in a statement. This unmanned Hydrogen Electric powered Vertical Take-Off and Landing (H2eVTOL) aircraft boasts a target range of up to 300-kilometer, a 100-kilogram payload capacity and 12-16 hours of uptime, facilitating same-day deliveries across underserved areas in India, the statement added.
The BluJ HOPis a piloted H2eVTOL designed for quiet, economical, and safe, regional passenger travel, the statement said.
Blade India MD Ami Dutta said: “We are thrilled to couple our operational expertise with BluJ Aero’s cutting-edge aircrafts to redefine the landscape of regional mobility in India, enabling aerial access to regions without traditional airports and helping ease traffic at existing ones,” The agreement, he added, marks the beginning of an important partnership that helps expand our service offerings with sustainable solutions.
The impact of this partnership extends beyond just fleet expansion; it opens possibilities to access previously untapped and underserved regions for cargo and passenger mobility. It also promises new job opportunities within the aviation sector, Dutta added.
The collaboration with Blade India was a significant step towards commercializing sustainable aviation for regional connectivity, BluJ Aero co-founder Amar Sri Vatsavaya said. “We look to leverage the globally unique policies of DGCA and help in their progressive work in certification to expedite bringing indigenous innovations such as ours, to market.”
