SkyDrive, an eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, has officially received Approved Design Organization (ADO) certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

SkyDrive is the first dedicated eVTOL developer in Japan to achieve this certification. The ADO status serves as official public proof that SkyDrive possesses rigorous quality control and safety management systems regarding its capabilities for aircraft design and post-design inspection. This achievement marks a definitive step forward in the commercialisation of eVTOLs and the establishment of a next-generation mobility ecosystem in Japan.

This certification is equivalent to the Design Organisation Approval (DOA) issued by EASA and the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) by the FAA.

The approved Organisation system is a framework in which the MLIT audits and certifies whether an organisation's capability to conduct its operations meets specific standards. Within this system, the ADO certification is granted to organisations that possess the systems necessary to properly execute aircraft design and post-design inspections. By obtaining this certification, organisations are authorised to conduct a portion of the inspections typically performed by the government, thereby streamlining the development process.

As of April 2026, SkyDrive joins an elite group of only six companies in Japan, including major long-standing aerospace manufacturers, to hold this certification, underscoring the company's exceptional engineering standards.

SkyDrive is currently pursuing a type certificate, which will validate the safety of its SD-05 eVTOL aircraft, with the goal of practical implementation from 2028 onwards. Earning the ADO certification confirms that SkyDrive meets the certification standards for an approved organisation. This establishes its design system and further solidifies the roadmap toward launching services in 2028.

By leveraging this officially recognised framework, SkyDrive will streamline the path to type certification and accelerate its timeline toward commercialisation. It remains dedicated to advancing safe eVTOL technology through close public-private collaboration, striving to build a future where seamless air mobility is part of everyday life for everyone.

Arnaud Coville, chief technology officer, SkyDrive, says: “Earning ADO certification is a testament to the relentless dedication of our entire team. From our engineers to our quality management specialists, we have built a world-class safety culture from the ground up. This is a watershed moment for the social implementation of eVTOLs in Japan. We will continue to collaborate with regulatory authorities and our partners to accelerate the realisation of a safe, trusted and accessible air mobility revolution.”

Harald Nagler, head of airworthiness and type certification, SkyDrive, concludes: “The ADO certification grants us the authority to verify and guarantee the integrity of our designs internally, which is a game-changer for the efficiency of our type certification process. This allows us to move with greater speed in design iterations and compliance testing. We are now more confident than ever in our ability to meet our 2028 commercialisation goals.”