Toyota City, Japan. SkyDrive Inc. (SkyDrive), a leading compact eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, announced the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan Biz Aviation Co., Ltd. (JBZ), a major Japanese charter aircraft operator currently providing charter services for aircraft including the HondaJet and Bell helicopters.
Background to Partnership, Future Plans
SkyDrive currently holds a cumulative total of 427 aircraft orders from partners in Japan and overseas (the order book includes pre-orders for 354 aircraft and basic purchase agreements for 73 aircraft). Outside Japan, the majority of these orders come from companies that already operate helicopters or charter aircraft and are therefore already in possession of the air operator’s certificate (AOC) required for aircraft operations.
The situation is different in Japan, where SkyDrive has received large numbers of orders from rail companies and other parties that do not currently hold an AOC. As such, to expand the range of its operations and grow the eVTOL market in Japan, SkyDrive intends to contract companies with significant operational and maintenance experience to support the commercial operations of its aircraft, ensuring a safe, smooth, and reliable service launch. This first MoU with JBZ, a company with deep expertise in the field of business aircraft operations, is an agreement to move forward with concrete discussions on how these arrangements will be organised and implemented.
Under the MoU, both parties agree to discuss:
- The development of aircraft ownership and operations schemes, determining the respective roles played by SkyDrive, JBZ, and aircraft buyers.
- The development of a roadmap proposing a specific time frame for entry into service and other future plans.
Next Steps
SkyDrive will work together with JBZ and other future operations partners to ensure that parties purchasing SkyDrive aircraft can do so with complete confidence. This will allow strategic partners in all industries to own and generate revenue from SkyDrive aircraft, speeding the adoption of eVTOL technology across Japan.
SkyDrive Inc. CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, commented, “I am delighted that we have been able to sign this MoU with JBZ, a specialist operator of business aircraft, including rotorcraft. The strategy of helping players from various industries purchase and fly eVTOL is a core part of our efforts to ensure widespread uptake of eVTOL technology and promote the use of our aircraft across Japan. Together with JBZ, we will build safe, robust and reliable flight operations frameworks that will deliver the new experience of advanced air mobility to the public as soon as possible.”
Shin Koizumi, Representative Director, Japan Biz Aviation Co., Ltd., stated, “We at JBZ are extremely honoured to have concluded this MoU with SkyDrive over the future operations of eVTOL aircraft in the Japanese market. Our business, through the operation of aircraft including Honda Jets and Bell 429 helicopters, currently provides safety-first, high-value added mobility services that take into account the needs of the high-net worth individuals and other customers who entrust us with their aircraft.”
“We are working to promote business jet and helicopter charters as a new mobility option for travel around Japan. This MoU is an important additional step forward that further broadens our business scope, allowing us to apply the operational know-how developed through our ongoing businesses to the new fields of eVTOL and advanced air mobility.
The combination of SkyDrive’s technology and our operational knowledge will move us forward towards the goal of introducing advanced air mobility to passengers in Japan.” Shin Koizumi added.
