ACE 2026 - September 8th
The bimonthly news publication for aviation professionals.
SkyDrive has signed a letter of intent with Tohoku Air Service for the future purchase of one SkyDrive SD-05 eVTOL aircraft, with delivery targeted for 2028 as the companies explore regional air mobility operations across northern Japan.
The agreement represents SkyDrive’s first planned aircraft sale to a Japan-based helicopter operator and forms part of the company’s wider push toward commercial eVTOL operations from 2028.
Tohoku Air Service, part of the Tohoku Electric Power Company group, said it intends to assess the aircraft for multiple roles including sightseeing flights, regional transport, medical services and post-disaster relief operations. The operator cited quieter operations and lower purchase and maintenance costs among the potential advantages compared with conventional helicopters.
SkyDrive has continued flight demonstrations of its SD-05 aircraft ahead of certification and entry into service. During 2025, the company conducted demonstration flights at Expo 2025 Osaka and additional vertiport locations in Osaka, before carrying out further demonstration flights in Tokyo during February 2026.
Founded in 1991, Tohoku Air Service has supported power infrastructure operations across the Tohoku region for more than three decades, using helicopters for airborne power line inspections and cargo transport into mountainous and remote areas.
The companies said they will jointly examine functionality, infrastructure requirements, safety considerations and operational feasibility while developing a multi-use operating model for regional cities.
Tohoku Air Service president Shigeyuki Ouchi says: “Working together with SkyDrive, the only company in Japan developing an eVTOL, allows us to feed the operational knowledge we have built through our helicopter operations into the development of SkyDrive's aircraft.”
SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa adds: “The LOI will deliver a major contribution toward establishing and maintaining a sustainable transport ecosystem based on multifunctional eVTOL operation in Tohoku, with these operations covering various fields including sightseeing flights, regional transportation and post-disaster relief services.”
