On July 17, SkyDrive CEO Fukuzawa and Chairman Kishi paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Kaneko, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

Mr. Miyazawa, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), and Mr. Ishii, Director of the Safety Department, also attended the meeting. During the session, attendees exchanged views on SkyDrive’s ongoing work to secure type certification. They also discussed the future of the eVTOL industry, with a focus on the development of eVTOL infrastructure and public acceptance of this new technology.

Since its founding in 2018, SkyDrive has conducted a series of successful flight tests. As these tests continue, SkyDrive is engaged in close collaboration with the JCAB over the rigorous certification process required to produce a safe aircraft with permission to operate commercially.

As SkyDrive seeks to expand its business overseas, the certification process is now moving forward in earnest, with SkyDrive liaising not only with JCAB but also with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

At the meeting, Minister Kaneko extended his encouragement to SkyDrive for the continuation of its successful flight test campaign and its ongoing efforts to secure type certification, noting that rarity of aircraft development projects in Japan over the past 80 years. He also drew attention to the long-term prospects for eVTOLs, pointing out their potential utility in regional transport and disaster relief operations.

SkyDrive described its future challenges and the direction of its ongoing work to ensure that its compact eVTOL becomes a realistic option for short-hop intra-urban transport, going on to also note the company’s existing commitment to achieving the goal of commercial operations in 2028. SkyDrive also stressed the importance of collaboration with MLIT and METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) during the upcoming critical period.

SkyDrive extends its profound gratitude to the Civil Aviation Bureau of MLIT for its continuous support and collaboration and to Minister Kaneko for his powerful encouragement which serves to inspire our team. Moving forward, SkyDrive remains committed to working in close collaboration with the relevant ministries and agencies as we continue to make steady progress toward the launch of commercial eVTOL services in Japan.

Contact:
Public Relations
SkyDrive Inc.
Email: info@skydrive.co.jp
https://skydrive.co.jp/en/contact