The proposal from Mitsubishi Estate Co in cooperation with Kanematsu Corporation and SkyDrive Incl for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Project for Building a Business Model for Services Using Flying Cars” has now been selected, said the company in a press release, translated from the Japanese by google translate.
“In the second half of fiscal year 2025, we will conduct operational verification and technical verification through operational demonstrations and takeoff and landing site operations using an actual flying car and a port with terminal equipped with the Vertiport Automation System in Tokyo,” said the press release. “For the test flights, we plan to use SkyDrive’s SD-05 aircraft , which will also fly at the 2025 World Expo (Osaka-Kansai Expo).”
“Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. was selected for the “Project Aiming for the Social Implementation of Services Using Flying Cars in Tokyo” in fiscal year 2022. Since then the company has been considering various business models in Tokyo with the aim of quickly commercializing services using flying cars in Tokyo. In fiscal year 2023, a “Demonstration of operation by helicopter connecting the rooftop of a building in the city centre with the waterfront” was carried out. Using a helicopter, the company conducted technical verifications such as identifying issues in the customer experience during boarding and verifying business feasibility through a survey of appropriate prices, confirming the operation of a flying car when operating in the city centre, and the impact of sound and wind on the surrounding environment.
The latest project “aims to clarify operational issues by operating a port equipped with a flying car and a terminal in an integrated manner and carrying out a series of operations from “pre-flight preparation” to “departure,” “cruise,” “landing,” and “end of operation.” We will continue to consider future use of our assets toward the implementation of flying cars in Tokyo, and contribute to solving social issues in Tokyo and Japan and creating new value.
The Vertiport Automation System is a system that automates and optimizes the operation of takeoff and landing sites for flying cars. It supports the realization of safe, secure and frequent operation of flying cars by arranging the equipment necessary for operational support such as managing the availability of takeoff and landing sites and monitoring the surrounding airspace, digital management of resources including ground facilities, and seamless customer experience through check-in and customer management.”
In a separate Linkedin post, Skyports Infrastructure reported it will be providing its Vertiport Automation System to support eVTOL flight demonstrations planned in the city next year as part of the project.
For more information
https://www.mec.co.jp/news/detail/2025/06/04_mec250604_sorakuru
https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyports/posts/?feedView=all
(Image: Skyports Infrastructure)