It is an honor to contribute to the World Economic Forum platform following the recent launch of the report ‘Skyways to the Future: Operational Concepts for Advanced Air Mobility in India’ at the Small Aircraft and Helicopters Summit in Shillong on November 14, 2024.
This milestone event underscored India’s commitment to embracing innovation and redefining the future of mobility. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is no longer a distant aspiration; it is a rapidly emerging reality poised to revolutionize transportation, enhance connectivity and drive sustainable economic growth.
As Minister of Civil Aviation, I am pleased to share India’s vision and efforts in this transformative journey, reflecting our dedication to fostering cutting-edge solutions that benefit urban and rural communities alike.
India’s transport and logistics sector has witnessed unprecedented growth and transformation over the past decade, driven by the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Civil aviation, in particular, has emerged as a key enabler of connectivity, economic growth and social integration.
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Today, India is the third-largest civil aviation market in the world. The country’s number of operational airports has more than doubled, increasing from 74 in 2014 to 157 today, bringing air travel closer to millions of Indians.
Similarly, the aircraft inventory has doubled to more than 800, ensuring greater accessibility. From 2014 to 2024, domestic passenger traffic grew at a compound annual growth rate of 9.7%, while international passenger traffic grew at 4.5%.
Aviation’s growth trajectory
This growth reflects the democratization of air travel and the effectiveness of government initiatives such as UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) – a regional air connectivity scheme.
While the government’s viability gap funding has successfully extended air connectivity to unserved and underserved regions, urban mobility is the next frontier for India’s aviation sector.
The rapid urbanization of cities such as Delhi and Mumbai has led to a significant surge in city traffic, creating congestion and increasing commute times for millions of citizens.
As urban populations continue to grow, traditional modes of transport are struggling to meet the demands of efficient, timely travel.
This is where advanced air mobility becomes crucial. It presents a transformative opportunity to decongest urban landscapes, reduce travel time, and provide a cleaner, faster, more sustainable mode of transport for India’s growing cities.
The government is committed to fostering innovation in this space, recognizing the potential of advanced air mobility to revolutionize urban transportation and improve the quality of life for millions.
Through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, we have issued comprehensive guidelines to pave the way for integrating electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into India’s transportation ecosystem.
Making a vision
We have implemented stringent safety standards covering design, construction and flight performance and detailed protocols for establishing vertiports. We also issued guidelines for air taxi licenses, laying the groundwork for their emergence.
With these measures in place, we envision a future where urbanites can bypass road traffic chaos, commuting in minutes via eVTOL aircraft stationed conveniently at urban hubs.
This is not a distant dream but a vision in the making. A prime example is Sarla Aviation’s groundbreaking memorandum of understanding with Bangalore International Airport to integrate eVTOL aircraft into the city’s transportation network.
This initiative will drastically reduce travel times to and from the airport, potentially shrinking hours-long commutes to mere minutes. And as these advanced vehicles move closer to reality, their potential extends beyond urban commutes.
Heavy-lift aerial equipment could revolutionize logistics, bridging gaps across India’s vast landscape.
Technologies once deemed futuristic are now proving their transformative potential in reshaping lives and livelihoods. Drones, for instance, have emerged as a powerful tool for inclusive growth and efficient service delivery.
Under Prime Minister Modi and efforts by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, innovative drone initiatives have taken flight across India. One initiative, in partnership with the Uttarakhand state government, was launched at AIIMS Rishikesh to deliver medicines to remote villages.
Access for all
The intervention that uses drones to deliver TB medicine eliminates the need for patients to take long, costly journeys, allowing critical medications to reach their doorsteps. Additionally, drones facilitate real-time health tracking and enable seamless collection of patient samples, ensuring efficient care.
Drones have also played a pivotal role during natural disasters, as demonstrated by the devastating floods in the southeastern city of Vijayawada. During these floods, drones were deployed for critical relief operations, delivering food and medical supplies and assisting rescue efforts.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s vision of empowering women, such as “Drone Didi,” has made drones accessible to women entrepreneurs, enabling them to leverage this advanced technology for diverse applications, from agriculture to public service.
I believe the advent of advanced air mobility represents more than just a technological breakthrough; it signifies a transformative shift in how we envision and enable mobility.
As Union Civil Aviation Minister, it is my vision to ensure the ease of flying for every citizen, bridging innovation with accessibility.
Advanced air mobility offers an unparalleled opportunity to redefine urban transportation, addressing the pressing challenges of congestion and environmental sustainability.
The road ahead demands a harmonious blend of innovation, robust regulation and seamless collaboration. I am confident that with our collective efforts, this promising vision will soar to new heights, reshaping the future of mobility in India.
(The author Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu is Minister of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation of India)
This article first appeared in the World Economic Forum. Read the original piece here.
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