Japanese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) manufacturer SkyDrive and subway operator Osaka Metro have reached an agreement to explore the use of eVTOL vehicles in the Osaka region.
SkyDrive and Osaka Metro are planning to implement electric aerial vehicles (EAVs) in Japan, including for operations at vertiports for takeoffs and landings.
Osaka Metro, which has also invested in SkyDrive, operates eight subway lines and a driverless tram, serving over 2 million passengers daily.
The subway operator is already integrating various forms of transport such as subways, buses, and taxis in Osaka and has been chosen to manage a vertiport near the Expo site in the city.
SkyDrive Is Set To Take Part In The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Smart Mobility Expo project Scheduled For 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently accepted a type certification application from SkyDrive, which was filed through Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).
SkyDrive aims to secure FAA type certification alongside its anticipated JCAB certification by 2026 or later.
In 2023, SkyDrive established a U.S. subsidiary to prepare for its entry into the American market.
The EAV manufacturer has formed a strategic partnership with Volatus Infrastructure, and the two companies are collaborating on advanced mobility infrastructure in South Carolina, which serves as SkyDrive’s U.S. headquarters.