A drone-like electric aircraft created by a Japanese startup has taken an important leap towards commercialization after receiving a safety certificate from the authorities. Tokyo-based SkyDrive showcased an early version of its electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) in 2018, before completing the first piloted test flight in 2020.
The current design of SkyDrive’s SD-03 “flying car” features a single seat with a body as small as a car. Appearing like a large drone, it flies with the help of 8 propellers and has a maximum speed of around 50 kph. Its last flights lasted up to 10 minutes.
SkyDrive to create a fully autonomous version
In the last few days, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) issued a certificate that confirmed the structure, design, strength, and performance of the SD-03 has met all the required safety and environmental needs for such an aircraft. SkyDrive says it’s the first time that MLIT has accepted an application for a flying car.
The certification puts the company on way to commercialize the aircraft in 2025. If it can clear the remaining regulatory hurdles, it wants to make use of SD-03 for an air-taxi service during the Osaka Kansai Expo event. This hints SkyDrive will be required to create a fully autonomous SD-03, or if a pilot is needed, create a bigger version of the aircraft with additional seats to ferry passengers.
Many players developing eVTOLs
SkyDrive said it was “very pleased” to receive the certification, saying that it will “continue to work in close partnership with the government and MLIT to complete our development of a wholly safe and reliable flying car.”
NASA has also started testing an all-electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The vehicle is developed by California-based Joby Aviation, with the hopes of establishing an entirely new form of city-to-city travel. The space agency is using aircraft to collect performance and acoustic data to help make more airspace concepts in the future as a part of its Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign. It will be interesting to see how the aircraft functions when ready.
