Japan’s SkyDrive signs eVTOL agreement with Gold Coast Helitours

Japan’s SkyDrive announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Gold Coast Helitours for the purchase of up to five “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL aircraft. The two agreed on a delivery schedule targeting two aircraft in 2028 and three in 2029. Driven by a growing global demand for sustainable transit options and exceptionally quiet mobility experiences, the Gold Coast is spearheading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiatives. As a top-tier resort destination in Australia with a well-established helicopter sightseeing sector, the region aims to integrate these innovative air mobility systems into practical use. Aligning with this vision, Gold Coast Helitours, an operator with a long-standing record of safe and highly reliable helicopter flights, sought to leverage the unique advantages of eco-friendly, ultra-quiet eVTOL aircraft to transform air travel and build a new tourism ecosystem in the region. SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours plan to launch Australia’s first eVTOL sightseeing service in 2028, operating out of the existing heliport located at Marina Mirage, Main Beach. Takeoff and Landing Point: Marina Mirage, Main Beach Flight Overview: An approximate 10-minute scenic loop flying over the Broadwater, Southport, and Surfers Paradise. Leading up to the targeted commercial launch in 2028, SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours will work closely to secure necessary type certification from regulatory authorities. As a foundational step for operations, the partners will also drive the development of a dedicated vertiport and a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at Southport Airfield. Looking ahead, the long-term vision is to utilize Southport Airfield as a central maintenance hub to build a broader eVTOL aircraft network. This network aims to seamlessly connect the Gold Coast city center, major commercial districts, and the Gold Coast Airport. Scott Menzies, Chief Pilot and Director, Gold Coast Helitours, said: “For many years, we have provided our guests with breathtaking views of the Gold Coast from the sky. By adding incredibly quiet and environmentally friendly eVTOL aircraft to our fleet, we can offer an unprecedented new era of air travel. This beautiful coastline is the perfect stage for such a launch.” Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder & CEO, SkyDrive, said: “Gold Coast Helitours is an outstanding partner with a proven history of safe operations and a clear, forward-looking vision for next-generation mobility. We are profoundly honored to announce our first aircraft introduction agreement in Australia alongside an operator with such industry-leading ambition.” Sri Lanka signs up to new EHang Global Fast Track Programme EHang announced the launch of its Global Fast Track Program — a structured and accelerated pathway for the assessment and introduction of pilotless eVTOL operations in international markets. Sri Lanka is the inaugural market under the initiative, with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (“CAASL”) adopting the Fast Track Program, targeting sandbox commercialisation within four months, subject to the successful completion of mandatory regulatory, technical, operational and safety assessments. Driven by EHang’s global expansion strategy, the launch of its Global Fast Track Program is expected to expedite the deployment of EHang’s pilotless eVTOL aircraft from initial regulatory engagement to commercial operations in new international markets. Built upon EHang’s complete certifications for pilotless passenger eVTOL aircraft, its commercial operating experience in China, and proven safe flight records across 23 countries, this structured framework delivers a validation‑driven pathway. It is expected to enable international civil‑aviation authorities and partners to streamline certification and commercial roll‑out for pilotless eVTOL operations, aiming to compress timelines from years to months. Rather than being built in isolation, this framework distills the practical experience EHang has accumulated through years of engagement from scratch with multiple civil aviation authorities, including operational learnings from early sandbox projects, as well as EHang talent teams covering the full end‑to‑end workflow spanning technology, airworthiness and flight operations to address regulatory requirements. Drawing on that experience, Fast Track packages it into a replicable, four-phase roadmap, aiming to enable authorities to move from validation to commercialization more efficiently based on an already-certified aircraft: Framework alignment — regulatory workflow established, and validation pathway defined. Sandbox build-out — site designation, infrastructure and ground operations systems deployed. Validation flights — sandbox flights conducted in accordance with established safety standards. Commercial launch — operational approval and commercial service. Sri Lanka was the first country to join the Fast Track Program, targeting initial sandbox commercialisation within four months, subject to the successful completion of mandatory regulatory, technical, operational and safety assessments. Both parties reached a consensus to conduct continued technical work with CAASL inspectors and technical teams, and to jointly plan sandbox flight sites and practical operation scenarios. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]