SkyDrive has announced the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan Biz Aviation Co., Ltd. (JBZ), a Japanese charter aircraft operator currently providing charter services for aircraft including the HondaJet and Bell helicopters.
“SkyDrive currently holds a cumulative total of 427 aircraft orders from partners in Japan and overseas (the order book includes pre-orders for 354 aircraft and basic purchase agreements for 73 aircraft),” according to a SkyDrive press release. “Outside Japan, the majority of these orders come from companies that already operate helicopters or charter aircraft and are therefore already in possession of the air operator’s certificate (AOC) required for aircraft operations. The situation is different in Japan, where SkyDrive has received large numbers of orders from rail companies and other parties that do not currently hold an AOC. As such, to expand the range of its operations and grow the eVTOL market in Japan, SkyDrive intends to contract companies with significant operational and maintenance experience to support the commercial operations of our aircraft, ensuring a safe, smooth, and reliable service launch.”
Under the MoU, both parties agree to discuss the development of aircraft ownership and operations schemes, determining the respective roles played by SkyDrive, JBZ, and aircraft buyers; and the development of a roadmap proposing a specific time frame for entry into service and other future plans.
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