BluJ Aero gets Blade India’s commitment for 60 VTOL aircraft

Advanced aviation startup BluJ Aero has signed its first customer MoU with short-haul urban player Blade India for 60 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

Advanced aviation startup BluJ Aero has signed its first customer MoU with short-haul urban player Blade India for 60 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

The two companies have signed an agreement that will involve the purchase of 50 BluJ REACH cargo aircraft and 10 BluJ HOP passenger aircraft, Hyderabad-based BluJ Aero said in a release on Tuesday (December 17, 2024). In October, it held a flight demonstration of its prototype take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

The hydrogen-electric powered unmanned aerial vehicle (H2eVTOL) BluJ REACH will revolutionize mid-mile transportation and boasts a target range of up to 300 km, a 100-kg payload capacity and 12-16 hours of downtime, simplify the same. -day delivery to all underserved areas in India.

BluJ HOP is a pilot H2eVTOL designed for quiet, economical and safe travel for regional commuters, the Hyderabad-based startup said.

“We are excited to combine our operational expertise with BluJ Aero’s state-of-the-art aircraft to redefine the landscape of regional travel in India, enabling access to regions without traditional airports and facilitating traffic relief in existing ones,” said Blade India MD Amit Dutta.

This partnership opens up opportunities to reach untapped and untapped regions for cargo and passenger transport, and promises to create new jobs in the aviation sector and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

It is a step towards sustainable aviation to connect the region. “We are looking to implement the globally unique policies of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and assist in their ongoing certification work to accelerate the delivery of indigenous innovations like ours,” said BluJ Aero founder and CEO Amar Sri Vatsavaya.

Blade India was established in 2019 as a joint venture between Blade USA and Hunch Ventures and its fleet includes helicopters and private chargers, with services covering Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and beyond. It focuses on increasing contributions and using new technologies such as eVTOLs to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.