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SkyDrive, the Japanese eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) company, will become the first to provide electric air taxi flights across Osaka in collaboration with Osaka Metro.
Back in August, Osaka Metro and SkyDrive announced that they were working on a strategy to launch commercial air taxi services in Osaka. Soon after, Osaka Metro set up a dedicated “eVTOL Promotion Office” that began working closely with the manufacturer.
As an initial result of their joint efforts, the two introduced the “Osaka Diamond Routes,” which is the initial concept for future eVTOL operations. As the name suggests, this document outlines the future air taxi routes, which will connect four key destinations: Shin-Osaka/Umeda, Morinomiya, Tennoji/Abeno, and the Osaka Bay Area.
Similar to EHang’s eVTOL in China, the SkyDrive aircraft will initially provide tourism-related services. More specifically, the Osaka Diamond Routes concept is centered on the major tourist attractions in the area and is meant to ensure the most stunning aerial views for future passengers.
Now that the routes have been established, the next step is to focus on infrastructure (vertiport locations) and all the details of commercial operations. For this next phase, the two companies will work closely with the local authorities of Osaka.
Osaka Metro currently operates eight subway lines, and a new-generation autonomous tram system called the New Tram. Another modern initiative is the e METRO, a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) program that integrates multiple modes of transportation for increased connectivity.
Although introducing the Osaka Diamond Routes is an important step forward, there’s still a long way to go before actual commercial operations. The upcoming World Expo 2025, which will take place in Osaka, will be a turning point for AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) in Japan and beyond. Following this prestigious event, SkyDrive and Osaka Metro hope to launch commercial air taxi services by 2028.
Osaka will only be the beginning. The two partners plan to gradually expand these air taxi services, first to the Osaka suburbs and eventually to the entire Kansai region.
SkyDrive is backed by Suzuki, and its SD-05 aircraft will be manufactured at the Suzuki production facility in Iwata City, Shizuoka. Earlier this year, SkyDrive announced its plans to roll out up to 100 units per year from the Suzuki facility.
The SD-05 stands out as a lighter, compact alternative to most eVTOLs on the market. It boasts a three-seat configuration combined with a 12-rotor system. Ideally suited for short-distance flights, it offers a modest 9-mile (15 km) range and a 62 mph (100 kph) top speed.
SkyDrive’s SD-05 is an evolution of the Japanese company’s initial design, the SD-03, an ultra-compact aircraft that was recognized as the world’s smallest eVTOL. The current three-seat model was awarded the prestigious International Forum (iF) Design Award for “the most accessible flying car.”
