• 11 Nov 2024 06:22 AM
• 0

FAA Starts SkyDrive Certification Process

Japan-based SkyDrive announced on June 17 that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had begun its process for type certification for its three-seat SD-05 eVTOL (shown) and will coordinate with Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to certificate the aircraft in both nations. The FAA accepted the SkyDrive application on April 29.

SkyDrive plans to debut the SD-05 at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka and aims to operate limited urban air mobility flights during that event, where Osaka Metro will also manage a vertiport (see “Electric VTOL News,” Vertiflite, Sept/Oct 2024). The company announced on Aug. 26 that it would also study business plans with Osaka Metro for eVTOL flights after the expo to complement its train, taxi and bus networks.