Japanese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer SkyDrive announced a major milestone in its push toward commercial operations, securing a G-1 certification basis from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The approval represents a significant step in the company’s efforts to achieve full type certification for its three-passenger SKYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft.
Alongside the certification update, SkyDrive unveiled the first real-world images of its eVTOL, providing a glimpse of the aircraft in action before its public demonstration flights at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
SkyDrive Expands Global eVTOL Ambitions
SkyDrive, a rising name in the sustainable aviation sector, has been making rapid advancements across Japan and the United States. The company is targeting scaled eVTOL production with the support of Suzuki, which has signed on to manufacture the aircraft in Japan.
In mid-2023, SkyDrive established a U.S. headquarters in South Carolina, marking a strategic move to enter the North American market. Since then, the company has expanded its pre-order backlog while working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on a separate certification process for its aircraft in the U.S.
The G-1 certification basis issued by JCAB lays the regulatory groundwork for SkyDrive to advance toward full type certification, aligning its eVTOL with Japan’s safety and airworthiness standards. This milestone follows months of collaborative discussions between the company and Japan’s aviation regulators.
SkyDrive Moves Toward Commercial eVTOL Operations
With the G-1 certification secured, SkyDrive is refining its flight testing roadmap, aiming to begin extensive ground and flight trials in Japan. Discussions with JCAB are ongoing to finalize testing schedules and procedures.
At the same time, the company continues FAA validation efforts in the U.S., positioning its eVTOL for potential certification in both markets.
SkyDrive’s Chief Development Officer, Arnaud Coville, expressed optimism about the company’s progress:
“We are pleased to announce that the JCAB has issued the G-1 certification basis that will apply to our first commercial eVTOL aircraft. We have reached this significant milestone through a series of respectful and collaborative discussions with the JCAB. The issuance of this certification basis represents the culmination of substantial efforts invested over several months. We are also thrilled with the recent progress achieved in our validation project with the FAA.”
With the Osaka Expo 2025 approaching, SkyDrive aims to showcase the capabilities of its aircraft to a global audience through public demonstration flights. As the company advances its certification pathway and prepares for commercial deployment, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for SkyDrive.