SkyDrive and partners launch eVTOL feasibility study in Japan

SkyDrive and a consortium of approximately 15 companies, including MUFG Bank, have launched a feasibility study to establish commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations in Western Japan. The initiative, known as the “Kansai Air Transportation Network Concept,” aims to develop the necessary infrastructure and business models to integrate air mobility into the daily transportation and tourism sectors of the Kansai region.

The group is targeting the establishment of a joint venture by summer 2027, with the goal of commencing commercial flights as early as 2028. Key areas of focus include developing flight routes, planning vertiports and maintenance facilities, and creating safety management frameworks. One specific project involves collaborating with Osaka Metro to study converting existing rooftop emergency helipads into vertiports.

Participating industries include aviation, energy, finance, insurance, and tourism. The collaboration seeks to address complex challenges such as aircraft certification, flight management, environmental impact, and insurance risks that individual companies may find difficult to resolve alone.