There are more solutions than obstacles. Nicolas Zart
Toyota, Aichi, Japan — March 9, 2026 — True to its commitment to return to the US market, SkyDrive has just announced at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta, its formal agreement with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) on the General Certification Plan for its flagship eVTOL aircraft, the SKYDRIVE SD-05. This new announcement at Verticon 2026 introduced a strategic alliance between the company, Auto Aero Global and SAI Flight Services.
Press release:
While the AAM industry has seen many aircraft prototypes, the challenge of creating a truly functional regional ecosystem remains. Today at VERTICON 2026, a new alliance is bringing a fresh approach to this hurdle.
SkyDrive (Manufacturer), Aeroauto (Sales/Infrastructure), and SAI Flight Services (Operations) have announced a strategic “Partnership Cluster” to accelerate eVTOL deployment in the Southeastern U.S. This is more than a supply deal; it is a new blueprint for market entry that integrates the entire value chain into one unified team.
Why this brings a “new breeze” to the AAM sector:
- The Power of Three: By combining SkyDrive’s engineering with Aeroauto’s Florida-based sales/showroom network and SAI’s operational footprint, this alliance removes the traditional silos between OEM, infrastructure, and operator.
- Strategic Regional Scaling: Rather than a scattered approach, the team is building a high-density “Partnership Cluster” across the Florida-South Carolina corridor, creating a replicable model for regional AAM networks.
- Defined Commercial Path: The partnership is cemented by an LOI for eight “SKYDRIVE (SD-05)” aircraft with a phased delivery starting in 2028, backed by SAI’s existing operational bases.
This collaboration represents a significant milestone for SkyDrive and a strategic entry into the U.S. Advanced Air Mobility market.
These announcements come on the heel of SkyDrive’s position taken the week before at the Augusta Skyworx Innovation Exchange, as one of a small number of eVTOL manufacturers globally to have reached this stage of the type certification process.
What the Agreement Means
The General Certification Plan lays out the master blueprint every activity SkyDrive must complete to demonstrate that the SD-05 meets all legal airworthiness requirements. Critically, it confirms that both SkyDrive and the JCAB are aligned on how to prove the aircraft is safe. JCAB and the US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) have bilateral agreements, which should facilitate SkyDive’s SD-05 US certification. By confirming that the regulator agrees with the manufacturer on how to demonstrate overall safety, the agreement should reduce future certification risk.
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In practical terms, this agreement shortens the projected timeline for compliance activities, clearing a significant source of uncertainty that has historically challenged eVTOL programs worldwide.
Where SkyDrive Stands in the Six-Step Process
The type certification process consists of six overall steps, and with today’s conclusion of the General Certification Plan agreement, SkyDrive continues to pragmatically move toward the completion of Steps 3 and 4. Step 3 involves agreement on the Means of Compliance — the detailed design standards showing how SkyDrive will meet certification requirements. Step 4 locks down the specific details of how each test will actually be executed.
SkyDrive has already submitted all remaining system-specific certification plans — covering structure, systems, electric motors, and noise — to the JCAB, where they are currently under review. Once agreement is reached on those plans, compliance testing will begin, representing the final stage of the aircraft’s development phase.
A Milestone Built on Years of Progress
Today’s agreement builds on the JCAB’s issuance of a G-1 certification basis for the aircraft in February 2025, which established the specific airworthiness and performance criteria for type certification. That in turn built on a foundational agreement reached back in March 2022 to use the JCAB Airworthiness Inspection Manual Part II as the regulatory framework — broadly equivalent to FAA Part 23 regulations.
Dual Certification: Japan First, Then the FAA
SkyDrive’s ambitions extend well beyond Japan as we mentioned above. SkyDrive submitted a type certificate application to the FAA through the JCAB in June 2024, and the company is pursuing certification in both Japan and the USA simultaneously, having established a US subsidiary in 2023 to prepare for market entry.
CTO Arnaud Coville was direct about the sequencing: “We will first advance type certification with the JCAB and then, working together with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), look to make further progress along the pathway to FAA certification. Looking ahead to the commercial launch of our eVTOL in 2028, we will continue to move steadily forward with our aircraft development.”
The SD-05 at a Glance
The SD-05 is a lightweight, multi-rotor eVTOL with a range of 25 miles (40km) and a top speed of 62mph (100km/h), with production underway since March 2024 at a facility owned by SkyDrive’s official production partner, Suzuki Motor Corporation. The aircraft carries one pilot and two passengers, and has been specifically designed for urban environments where short-range, building-to-building mobility is the priority.
The Bigger Picture
SkyDrive’s progress arrives at a pivotal moment for the global AAM industry. Regulatory timelines remain the single biggest variable for eVTOL commercialization worldwide — and today’s agreement demonstrates that a structured, collaborative approach between manufacturer and regulator can yield real results. With compliance testing expected to begin in the near future, and a 2028 commercial launch target firmly in sight, SkyDrive is making the kind of incremental, documented progress that the industry needs to see.
This article will be updated following SkyDrive’s Verticon 2026 presentation. Quotes and additional context to be added.