SkyDrive has announced the signing of a three-party agreement on a “framework for future eVTOL medical transport services in Taiwan”. The agreement, signed on July 15, 2026, brings together SkyDrive, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), a Taiwanese research and development organization, and 7A Drones, SkyDrive’s business partner in the implementation of this project.
“This agreement, which builds on prior use case analysis and the Letter of Intent signed by 7A Drones for the future purchase of SkyDrive aircraft, clarifies the division of responsibilities and future timeline for the operation of medical transport services flown in Taiwan by eVTOL aircraft,” said SkyDrive in a press release.
Cooperation between the three parties began in May 2025 with the signing of a partnership agreement that committed the signatories to work towards the commercialization of eVTOL services in Taiwan’s Penghu Islands, located in the Taiwan Strait.
“This work began with efforts to define potential eVTOL use cases in the field of medical transport,” said SkyDrive. “Subsequently, in February 2026, a Letter of Intent for the purchase of 10 SKYDRIVE (SkyDrive model SD-05) aircraft was signed between SkyDrive and 7A Drones, with both parties also developing a proposed emergency medical evacuation route connecting Magong City on Penghu’s main island with Hujing Island, a more remote island within the Penghu Islands.
“Remote Taiwanese islands face chronic medical access challenges including restricted inter-island transportation during rough winter weather when ferry services are frequently cancelled. With these challenges leaving significant scope for SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft to make a meaningful social contribution, SkyDrive is focusing on Penghu Island as a high priority project. 7A Drones, which develops drone solutions for a wide range of applications including logistics, disaster prevention, and post-disaster relief, is also deeply engaged in the development of future autonomous flight technologies. 7A Drones is participating in the Penghu Islands project as SkyDrive’s commercial and operational partner, taking responsibility for a wide range of roles including on-site feasibility studies, aircraft operations, aircraft maintenance and repair, negotiation with governmental and medical institutions, and preparations for entry into service.”
With this new agreement, the project moves from the conceptual and exploratory phase into the preparatory phase. SkyDrive, 7A and ITRI will finalize further details of the planned Magong-Hujing route, while also adding further candidate routes within the Penghu Islands. The project will identify candidate hospitals, clinics and emergency medical services, as well as local authority public health centers, with 7A Drones and ITRI taking the lead in specific, practical discussions with the local related parties. 7A Drones will make use of their local networks to identify candidates for permanent vertiport sites, and temporary emergency landing sites, in Magong, Hujing, and other locations, engaging in advance discussions with land owners and administrators.
Both parties will establish the technical and operational requirements that will govern the systems needed to operate and control unmanned aircraft, as well as related control, communications, power supply and charging infrastructure.
ITRI and 7A Drones will work together to examine possibilities for the launch of combined public-private teams that include the central and local government officials involved in overseeing medical treatment, transportation, electricity supply and communications, with the goal of harnessing such teams for the resolution of cross-domain issues including systems design, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure readiness.
For more information
https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/72705/
(Image: SkyDrive)