BluJ Aero has secured a Blade India commitment for 60 VTOL aircraft

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

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

The two companies have signed an agreement to purchase 50 Bluejay Rich cargo aircraft and 10 Bluejay Hop passenger aircraft, Hyderabad-based Bluejay Arrow said in a statement on Tuesday (17 Dec 2024). In October, it conducted a flight demonstration of its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft prototype.

The unmanned hydrogen-electric powered (H2eVTOL) aircraft BluJ REACH will be a game-changer for mid-mile logistics and offers a target range of 300 km, 100-kg payload capacity and uptime of 12-16 hours, similar features. -Day delivery to unserved areas in India.

BluJ HOP is a piloted H2eVTOL designed for quiet, affordable and safe, regional passenger travel, the Hyderabad-based startup said.

“We are excited to combine our operational expertise with BluJ Aero’s state-of-the-art aircraft to help redefine the landscape of regional mobility in India, enable air access to areas without traditional airports and ease traffic at existing airports,” said Blade India MD Amit Dutta.

The partnership opens up possibilities for cargo and passenger mobility to access previously untapped and underserved areas, while also promising to create new employment opportunities within the aviation sector and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

It is a step towards commercialization of sustainable aviation for regional connectivity. “We seek to leverage the globally unique policies of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and help them in their progressive work on certification to bring homegrown innovations like ours,” said Amar Sri Vatsavaya, co-founder and CEO of BluJ Aero.

Blade India was established in 2019 as a joint venture between Blade USA and Hunch Ventures and has a fleet of helicopters and private charters, serving Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and beyond. It is focused on expanding offerings and adopting innovative technologies such as eVTOLs to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.