In a groundbreaking move for healthcare in Kerala, Skye Air Mobility, a pioneer in drone technology-based logistics, has joined hands with CARITAS Hospital and Institute of Health Sciences in Kottayam to launch a drone-based medical delivery system to enhance healthcare accessibility. The Caritas Drone Medical Supply Delivery Unit is first of its kind in South Kerala. The initiative will see drones carrying up to 3 kg over distances 10-15 km. Contact: Skye Air Mobility Tel: +91-8800014868 Email: sales@skyeair.tech Website: www.skyeair.tech Bangalore airport first in Asia to receive ACI's level five accreditation Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) operated by Bangalore International Airport has marked a significant milestone by becoming the first airport in Asia to receive Airports Council International’s [ACI] highest level five accreditation. Bangalore Airport has made a remarkable 95.6 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions, attaining the highest emission elimination by an Indian airport, achieved seven years ahead of the initial target of 2030. The accreditation came into effect from May 2024. BLR airport has made significant strides in its decarbonisation journey and set new benchmarks by transitioning to 100 per cent renewable electricity and implementing initiatives focusing on sustainable mobility and green infrastructure. To offset its residual emissions, BLR airport has procured Airports Council International approved carbon units from carbon removal projects. Contact: Kempegowda International Airport Tel: 080667 85555 Website: www.bengaluruairport.com First flights out of Jewar airport expected only in December Come December, passenger flights are expected to start taking off from the Noida International Airport (NIAL) at Jewar. The airport, which after the complete expansion will be the country’s largest, was earlier expected to start basic operations by the end of September. Four domestic flights will be operational by December 29 and by February more flights will be flying out regularly. One of the roadblocks in the operationalisation of the airport, however, is the second phase of environmental clearance. Contact: Noida International Airport (NIAL) Tel: 0120 2395151 Email: info@nialjewar.com Website: www.nialjewar.com Kolkata airport’s will have 21 aerobridges The proposed second passenger terminal (T2) — to be built at a cost of Rs 42 billion — at the Kolkata airport will have three more aerobridges than the existing terminal (T1). T2 will have 21 aerobridges against 18 aerobridges in T1. The aerobridges will enable more passengers to directly board the aircraft from the terminal rather than taking bus rides to remote bays and then board flights. While the existing terminal can handle 8,460 passengers per hour, the new terminal will be able to handle 4,800 passengers per hour. Contact: Kolkata Airport Tel: 033-25119675 Email: gmtmkol@aai.aero Website: www.nscbiairport.com Want flights to come to Nagpur for bio aviation fuel, says Gadkari Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, said that earlier when he would say aircraft can run on bio aviation fuel even his associates won’t believe him but now that dream has come true. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has a plant with a capacity of 88,000 tonnes a year to make sustainable bio aviation turbine fuel (ATF) , he said adding he has already tripled the production of ethanol at his facilities to 0.6 million litres. Now, he looks forward to the day when an aircraft lands at the international airport in Nagpur and be filled with bio ATF made with material supplied by Vidarbha’s farmers. Bio aviation fuel will be cheaper than petroleum ATF, he said.