Skyports Infrastructure reports it has supported electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight demonstrations by SkyDrive in Tokyo with its Vertiport Automation System (VAS), helping to underpin the safe and efficient ground and flight operations of SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft.
“Taking place for five days between February 24th-28th 2026, the event saw demo flights of SkyDrive’s remotely piloted “SKYDRIVE” (SkyDrive Model SD-05) eVTOL aircraft out over Tokyo Bay,” said Skyports. “The demo was conducted in partnership with Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Kanematsu Corporation, and SkyDrive Inc., as a part of Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s support program, “Project for Developing Business Models for eVTOL Services in Tokyo”.
For the duration of the event, Skyports was appointed to integrate its Vertiport Automation System to help manage the ground and flight operations of SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft, alongside creating a fully functional passenger terminal to provide the Japanese public with a glimpse of the future electric air taxi passenger experience.
“Collaborating with SkyDrive, Skyport’s VAS provided the technical backbone for seamless flight and ground operations,” said the company. “Integrating with SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft, VAS was responsible for monitoring the surrounding airspace, weather monitoring and situational awareness, the management of landing and take-off slot availability and the digital management of ground equipment. During the flights, flight data was integrated into the airspace monitoring system, helping to facilitate the aircraft’s automated control and remote piloting. Skyports was also responsible for the vertiport terminal demo and integrating the technologies that help facilitate the seamless AAM passenger experience of the future.
“The temporary vertiport terminal, which was integrated with Skyport’s VAS, was designed for minimal dwell time. It included advanced passenger check in technologies such as facial recognition, security screening, flight information displays and information on boarding procedures. The vertiport also included passenger amenities such as comfortable lounge facilities and passenger viewing deck.
“Skyport’s VAS, and the overall flight monitoring were managed from a dedicated Operations Room within the vertiport, which provided operatives with a holistic view of the aircraft’s ground and flight operations, alongside passenger status and check-in, facilitating a seamless customer experience.”
Within the partnership, Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd was responsible for the overall project management, the overall development of the terminal building, and applying the findings of the trial into how air taxis would integrate into Japan’s urban environment. Kanematsu was responsible for the organization of regulatory and technical information, study of the operation of the vertiport, demonstration with evaluation of the operation of the vertiport terminal, and sub-contracting Skyports for its Vertiport Automation System and vertiport technologies.
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(Image: L-R: Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder / CEO, SkyDrive Inc.; Atsushi Nakajima, Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd, President & CEO; Ryoichi Kidokoro, Managing Executive Officer, Kanematsu Co., Ltd.; Duncan Walker, CEO, Skyports Infrastructure).