AirMobility and Skyportz have signed a memorandum of understanding covering the introduction of Skyportz’s patented Aeroberm modular vertipad in Japan.

With commercial eVTOL aircraft and large industrial drones moving closer to entry into service, attention is turning to the practical requirements of vertiport infrastructure. Issues such as downwash during take-off and landing, noise levels and response to battery fires are likely to influence how quickly facilities gain local approval and scale.

The Aeroberm is a modular vertipad designed to address those factors by reducing downwash, limiting noise and allowing access for battery incident response.

Under the agreement, AirMobility intends to combine the Aeroberm with its AirVport automation platform, linking physical infrastructure with software-based operational control. The Tokyo-based company will support the product’s introduction in Japan as part of wider efforts to prepare vertiport infrastructure for eVTOL aircraft and industrial drone operations.

Clem Newton-Brown, CEO, Skyportz, says: “We are delighted to enter the Japanese market through our partnership with AirMobility. Japan is one of the world's most forward-looking markets for advanced air mobility, and we are confident that AirMobility's network and expertise will be a significant asset in deploying Skyportz's technology in Japan.”

Hisashi Asai, president and CEO of AirMobility, adds: “We see Skyportz's Aeroberm as an essential piece of physical infrastructure for increasing the social acceptance of eVTOL and drone operations. By combining it with our proprietary AirVport, we believe we can realise safe and efficient vertiport operations where software and hardware work in concert.”