The ePlane Company, a Chennai-based electric aircraft maker, and India’s Apollo Hospitals said on July 23 that they had signed a memorandum of understanding in Chennai, which they announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, to explore electric air ambulances and medical drones in India.

The partnership will pair ePlane’s e200X aircraft and Amber Wings drones with Apollo’s ambulance and hospital network to transport patients, organs, and medical supplies.

Apollo already operates helicopters for emergency transfers from hubs in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad to smaller cities, with prices cited at 160,000 rupees (US$1,700) to 200,000 rupees (US$2,100) per hour.

The companies also mentioned possible future aircraft and drone orders, a potential Apollo investment in ePlane, as well as work with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other authorities on approvals and infrastructure.

Regulatory hurdles remain, as India’s current air ambulance requirements were drafted around fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters – including standards for stretcher restraints, oxygen systems, and patient-loading space.

Medical and organ drone services may move first through pilot programs rather than routine operations, as they typically depend on waivers, beyond-visual-line-of-sight corridors, and other tailored permissions.

🔗 Source: The ePlane Company

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