Japan's SkyDrive Signs Letter of Intent with Gold Coast Helitours for Delivery of Up to 5 eVTOL Aircraft by 2028

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Japan's SkyDrive Inc. has signed a letter of intent with Gold Coast Helitours, an Australian helicopter sightseeing company, to purchase up to five SKYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft, with a delivery schedule of two aircraft in 2028 and three in 2029.

Gold Coast Helitours is a long-established helicopter sightseeing service provider on the Gold Coast, maintaining a safe and reliable flight record. As a major Australian holiday destination, the Gold Coast is advancing the rollout of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) projects, aiming to introduce environmentally friendly, ultra-quiet eVTOL aircraft into actual sightseeing operations and build a new tourism ecosystem.

The two parties plan to launch Australia's first eVTOL sightseeing service in 2028, operating from the existing heliport at Marina Mirage in Main Beach, with approximately 10-minute scenic loop flights covering the Broadwater, Southport, and Surfers Paradise.

Prior to the start of commercial operations in 2028, SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours will collaborate to advance regulatory type certification and promote the construction of a dedicated vertiport and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities at Southport Airfield. The long-term plan is to use Southport Airfield as a central maintenance hub, building an eVTOL route network connecting the Gold Coast city center, major commercial areas, and Gold Coast Airport.

Scott Menzies, Chief Pilot and Director of Gold Coast Helitours, stated that the company has provided sightseeing services offering aerial views of the Gold Coast to tourists for many years, and adding low-noise, environmentally friendly eVTOL aircraft to the fleet will bring a new air travel experience, noting that this coastline is well-suited for such services.

Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SkyDrive, stated that Gold Coast Helitours has a reliable safety record in operations and a forward-looking vision for next-generation mobility, and that this signing marks SkyDrive's first aircraft introduction agreement in Australia.