India is preparing for the introduction of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air ambulances as part of its next-generation medical evacuation ecosystem. Aeromed International Rescue Services and Sarla Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deploy VTOL aircraft for emergency medical transport during golden hours of medical emergencies.
The MoU was signed by Adrian Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sarla Aviation, and Shaju Kumar KV, Director and Co-founder of Aeromed Air Ambulance. The agreement outlines the development of air mobility solutions for emergency situations, including organ transport.
As part of the MoU, plans are being made to integrate air mobility into hospital emergency protocols. This includes the introduction of rooftop and vertiport landing facilities and the design of patient cabins equipped with ventilators, medical equipment, and seating for doctors and paramedics.
Dr Amod Jaiswal, Founder and Managing Director of Aeromed Air Ambulance, said, “We are planning to connect all the Medical Colleges and the leading Corporate Hospitals in India with VTOL Air Ambulance, and bring futuristic technology to everyday emergency care. India is preparing for a future that includes flying cars—vertical take-off and landing aircraft capable of saving lives during Golden Hours in ways other modes of transport or even traditional Air ambulances cannot.”
Shaju Kumar, Director of Aeromed International Rescue Services, added, “Timely and affordable access to advanced medical care can mean the difference between life and death. Through this partnership, we will deploy VTOL and Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft capable of reaching patients anywhere in the country. Our vision is to bridge the healthcare gap by bringing intensive-care-level evacuation to every part of India.”
VTOL aircraft are designed to ascend and descend vertically without the need for a runway, while STOL aircraft operate from short airstrips. These capabilities enable patients to be transported directly to trauma centres in both congested urban and remote rural areas.
Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sarla Aviation, commented, “When every minute can mean the difference between life and death, mobility means everything. This partnership with Aeromed is about using VTOL technology to give people the most precious resource: time. India is one of the densest, fastest-moving nations on Earth, and our cities can’t afford to let traffic decide who gets timely medical care. Together, we are building an emergency response system that ensures help arrives when it’s needed most. This is the future of healthcare.”
Aeromed has stated that once prototypes are certified and commercially ready, it plans to procure VTOL and STOL aircraft dedicated to air ambulance services. The initiative aims to establish a medical evacuation network that enables rapid transfer of patients and life-saving organs across cities, towns, and villages.