SkyDrive announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Tohoku Air Service for the future purchase of a SKYDRIVE eVTOL (Model SD-05), with the goal of commencing operations in 2028. The agreement marks the first purchase commitment for a SkyDrive aircraft by a Japanese helicopter operator.

Tohoku Air Service, a subsidiary of the Tohoku Electric Power Company, will evaluate the use of eVTOL aircraft for applications such as regional transport, sightseeing flights, medical services, and disaster response. The company highlighted the potential of this technology due to its quiet operation and lower maintenance costs compared to conventional aircraft.

As part of the collaboration, both companies will work on an analysis of the safety, infrastructure, and operational feasibility of eVTOL services in the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture. The objective is to develop a multifunctional operating model that allows for the integration of this technology into various regional applications.

Shigeyuki Ouchi, president of Tohoku Air Service, noted that the agreement will allow for further research into the actual operation of eVTOL aircraft, including the evaluation of functionality, safety, and infrastructure. He also emphasized that the experience accumulated over more than 30 years in helicopter operations will contribute to the operational development of SkyDrive’s aircraft.

For his part, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, stated that the collaboration represents an important step toward establishing a sustainable transportation ecosystem based on multifunctional advanced air mobility operations, including tourism, regional transport, and disaster relief services.

SkyDrive continues to advance toward the commercialization of its aircraft following demonstrations in Osaka during Expo 2025 and test flights in Tokyo in 2026. The company aims to begin commercial operations of advanced air mobility in Japan in 2028.

Source: SkyDrive