ON November 9, InterGlobe Enterprises and Archer Aviation, a Boeing-backed US startup working in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced that they have ‘’entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch and operate an all-electric air taxi service in India, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals and clearances.’’
In a release put out on the occasion, the companies said, ‘’The parties intend to work with select in-country business partners to operate Archer’s aircraft, finance and build vertiport infrastructure, and train pilots and other personnel needed for these operations. The partnership also plans to finance the purchase of up to 200 of Archer’s Midnight aircraft for the India operations”.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft is a piloted, four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights. The goal is for a passenger on an InterGlobeArcher flight to be able to fly the 27-km trip from Connaught Place to Gurugram, typically taking 60 to 90 minutes by car, in approximately 7 minutes.
Successful airline
InterGlobe Enterprise is the parent company of India’s most successful airline, Indigo. Rahul Bhatia, a bit like Howard Hughes, is reclusive but certainly not eccentric though most certainly adventurous with a disdain for the humdrum and an impeccable appetite for the unchartered and adventurous. An evtol from Connaught Place to Gurugram in seven minutes is most certainly one such adventure that he would love. This adventure apart, is evtol feasible and practical?
According to McKinsey, “Leading evtol players are following aggressive timelines, hoping to achieve important certifications by the mid-2020s. Meanwhile, incumbents are trying to catch up: 72 per cent of the largest 25 aircraft OEMs and 64 per cent of the largest 25 suppliers now participate in some type of advanced air mobility activity. The upcoming year will pose a crucial test for entrants that wish to stay on the path for near-term flight certification.’’
SITA, which provides IT services at most major airports around the world and is owned largely by airlines, predicts that ‘’by 2032, electric air taxis will be ubiquitous at major international airports and operate as an effective auxiliary service and revenue stream for airports and airlines.’’
Testing of technology
Perhaps the first live demonstration of this exciting new tomorrow will happen at the Paris Olympics next year. The testing of critical eVTOL technology and passenger processing infrastructure is underway at Pontoise Aerodrome, some 25 miles north-west of Paris.
The initiative involves France’s civil aviation authority, airport operator Groupe ADP(investors in GMR who run Delhi and Hyderabad airports), German evtol manufacturer Volocopter and SITA, which is providing biometric infrastructure designed to smooth the check-in, security and boarding processes.
According to the Boston Consulting Group, Indians in the major metros spend an average of 1.5 hours extra each day commuting which results in a loss of US $22 billion every year.
So what Rahul Bhatia and Indigo are attempting to do is grab the firstmover advantage by signing an MOU and 200 aircraft when they are ready. Actually, InterGlobe is not the first. The startup,BLADE India, is already into helicopter services and promises to switch to evtol as the system evolves in India.
In December last year,Bumble Bee Flights Pvt. Ltd, a Bengaluru-based startup raised over Rs 300 crore. The company website proudly proclaims that they have a ‘’combined Industry experience of more than 100+ years.
(And is)reinforcing the ‘Make in India’ initiative by sourcing 70 per cent of components from Indian companies aligning with the vision of Govt. of India.’’ The company promised proof of concept in 2023, but the design and development are still in progress.
The real woe for India is not the concept, the design or getting a proof of concept into a real working scalable model. It is in that the regulatory matrix and the many institutions that need to waltz together to get something like the Paris project moving. That’s what takes time. Perhaps Interglobe’s big ticket announcement will be the catalyst that will set the ball rolling. That’s the hope.
