The ePlane Company Inks $1 Bn Deal To Supply Air Ambulances

SUMMARY

The ePlane Company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Critical-care Air Transfer Team (ICATT)

Under the deal, ePlane will provide a fleet of 788 eVTOL air ambulances valued at over $1 Bn

ICATT is eying to build India’s largest air ambulance network with ePlane’s e200x eVTOL aircraft

In what is being claimed as one of the largest private orders in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector, the ePlane Company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Critical-care Air Transfer Team (ICATT) to provide a fleet of 788 eVTOL air ambulances valued at over $1 Bn.

With this, ICATT aims to build India’s largest air ambulance network with ePlane’s e200x eVTOL aircraft.

ePlane claims that its e200x aircraft are designed for rooftop take-offs and landings, and are 7X faster than road transport and ideal for reaching rural or accident-prone areas.

“Healthcare is a fundamental right, everyone should be able to access it when they need it. Here, we are integrating technology, health and a very good cause so that no one is left behind.” said Shalini Nalwad, founder, ICATT.

Founded in 2017 by Dr Rahul Singh Sardar and Dr Shalini Nalwad, ICATT specialises in providing aeromedical services in India and abroad. With its latest signing of the MoU with ePlane company, ICATT aims to give Indians access to world-class air ambulance services. The air ambulance service provider claims to have carried out 2,348 critical patient airlifts since its inception. Under the deal, an eVTOL will be deployed by ICATT in every district.

Meanwhile, founded by Satya Chakravarthy in 2019, The ePlane Company is focussed on creating compact, lightweight, and sustainable solutions for urban mobility. It is the first private Indian company authorised to design civilian aircraft and has received preliminary approval for type certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The startup has two different brands within its business structure – ePlane and Amber Wings. While the ePlane brand focusses on the development of manned eVTOL aircraft, including air ambulances and air taxis, Amber Wings is developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for applications ranging from agriculture to logistics and inspection.

The company raised $14 Mn in its Series B funding round in November last year. It is eying to launch its air taxi commercially in 2026.