Japan-based vertiport development and management company SkyScape is to use Eve Air Mobility's Urban ATM (air traffic management) software as a part of the advanced air mobility concept of operations published by the Japanese government. SkyScape becomes Eve's 13th Urban ATM customer and its sixth Urban ATM vertiport customer.

Eve's Urban ATM software solution is a key enabler to the efficient implementation and scalability of urban air mobility by providing services for air navigation service providers, urban authorities, fleet operators, vertiport operators and other UAM stakeholders. The solution includes UAM flight coordination, vertiport automation airside support, airspace flow management and conformance management.

"This agreement represents a key milestone for Eve as SkyScape becomes our first Urban ATM customer in Japan as we continue to grow our portfolio of vertiport customers around the world," says vice president of sales and government affairs David Rottblatt. "Japan has been very proactive and is a global leader in pursuing urban air mobility. Eve's Urban ATM solution will play a critical role in helping to transport eVTOL passengers quickly and safely in densely populated cities in the future."

"Our team at SkyScape is focused on developments that move the needle forward and get us closer to launching real AAM services," says SkyScape CEO Asa Quesenberry. "Working directly with the Eve team pushes us one step closer to the reality we're looking to create within advanced air mobility and enables the variety of aviation operations we're planning to offer from our facilities."

The two companies have agreed to promote UAM in Japan and perform the test and trial of Urban ATM software, including data collection and sharing. They will also work together on showcasing eVTOL design and testing, vertiport design, operation certification and future autonomous operation development at SkyScape locations, including at its planned country research Integrated Aviation Center (IAC) site when it opens.

SkyScape is undertaking a 'building blocks' approach to vertiport development; a set of ready-made units that house various elements of vertiport operations, allowing site developers to design aviation facilities and vertiports with only the elements that are applicable to their unique situation and use case. The blocks are intended to make use of up-cycled conex containers as well as high-grade aluminium to enable quick set up and resilience through the facilities lifecycle. SkyScape hopes to develop aviation facilities that can support a high number of co-located services not limited to eVTOL operations but also first response, medical deliveries, security and more.