<p>Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.</p>
<p>Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.</p>


Managing Editor

<p><span><span><span>Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau has accepted Volocopter’s request to process its application to type certify its two-seat VoloCity eVTOL aircraft concurrently with the European air safety agency EASA. The German manufacturer is also working on type certification with&nbsp;the FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Volocopter’s announcement on February 21 was the third indicator this week of Japan’s intent to include advanced air mobility (AAM) services in its future public transportation strategy. On the same day, Tokyo-based SkyDrive confirmed that its SD-05 vehicle will participate in the Smart Mobility Expo as part of the Future Society Showcase Project Exhibitions during the Expo 2025 event in Osaka. Last week, China’s EHang conducted what it said was the first passenger-carrying eVTOL demonstration flight in Japan with its two-seat, EH216 autonomous aerial vehicle.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>In a further boost to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-11-01/volocopter-draws-182-million-funding-saudi-chinese-interests">Volocopter</a>, the company announced that Japanese trading and financial group Sumitomo Corporation is supporting its Series E funding round with an undisclosed investment. It is joining other Japanese investors in backing the European start-up’s efforts to bring the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/volocity">VoloCity</a> to market in 2025, and its plans for a larger, longer-range model called the VoloRegion and the VoloDrone freight vehicle.</span></span></span></p>
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center">
<article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-default">
  
        <div class="layout layout--onecol">
    <div class="layout__region layout__region--content">
      <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-media-image">
  
    
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/Volocopter-VoloCity-stands-tall-on-FATO-scaled.jpeg" width="2560" height="1707" alt="Volocopter's VoloCity eVTOL aircraft." title="Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau has accepted Volocopter's plans to concurrently certify its VoloCity two-seat eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Volocopter)">

</div>
      
  </div>
<div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-caption">
  
    
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau has accepted Volocopter's plans to concurrently certify its VoloCity two-seat eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Volocopter)</div>
      
  </div>

    </div>
  </div>

  </article>

<figcaption>Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau has accepted Volocopter's plans to concurrently certify its VoloCity two-seat eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Volocopter)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><span><span><span>From March 8 to&nbsp;12, Volocopter will display a full-scale model of the VoloCity at the Grand Front Osaka shopping mall. Since 2022, the company has held a series of sessions with&nbsp;Osaka elementary schools to share knowledge about AAM operations.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>On February 17, the EH216 flew with no pilot on board along the coastline at Tanoura beach in the city of Oita in western Japan. It carried two passengers, including Kirino Hiroshi, who is chairman of the Okayama Kurashiki Aero &amp; Space Industry Cluster Study Group (MASC), and one of his colleagues. MASC is one of two partners EHang has in Japan, with the other being helicopter flight booking platform <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-20/japanese-flight-booking-platform-add-ehangs-autonomous-evtols-network">AirX</a>.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-18/ehang-reports-progress-eh216-evtol-certification-and-income-preorders">EHang</a>, which is working to secure type certification in China for the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/ehang-autonomous-aerial-vehicle">EH216</a>, has conducted several flight demonstrations in <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-20/japanese-flight-booking-platform-add-ehangs-autonomous-evtols-network">Japan</a>, including the first point-to-point flight in July 2022, which also happened in Oita. During last week’s event, EHang&nbsp;COO&nbsp;Xin Fang&nbsp;said that the company has received support from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, as well as from local government officials and other partners in the country.</span></span></span></p>
<p>On February 17, EHang met with the Civil Aviation Administration of China at Hezhou in Guangxi province. The discussions were focused on the next steps in the certification and operational approval processes for the EH216. A company spokesperson told&nbsp;<strong>FutureFlight</strong>&nbsp;it is pleased with progress in getting the aircraft approved for commercial services.</p>
<p><span><span><span>In December 2022, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced a call for applications for eVTOL aircraft developers and operators to participate in the Osaka event. Details of the routes to be flown in the SD-05, as well as the frequency of flights, the number of aircraft involved, and fares for passengers, will be determined at a later date. </span></span></span></p>
<p>Japan's Marubeni Corporation, which is a prospective customer for Vertical Aerospace's VX4 four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, were also this week&nbsp;selected to provide flights during the Expo 2025 Osaka event. In January, the company paid an <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-20/vertical-receives-payment-first-vx4-evtol-aircraft-deliveries-japan">undisclosed deposit</a> to cover the first 25 of up to 200 vehicles it has on order. Marubeni and UK-based Vertical have been jointly working on AAM market research in Japan since September 2021.</p>
<p>Two other partners have been authorized&nbsp;to operate eVTOL vehicles as part of the Smart Mobility Expo. These are Japanese scheduled carrier <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-15/japans-all-nippon-airways-and-toyota-back-jobys-evtol-rideshare-plans">ANA</a> in alliance with Joby Aviation, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-10-20/japan-airlines-could-take-100-evtol-aircraft-air-taxi-plans-2025-osaka">Japan Airlines</a>, which has made a provisional commitment to add 100 of Vertical VX4 to its fleet.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span><span><span>Last month, SkyDrive announced a partnership in<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-26/japans-skydrive-focuses-south-carolina-us-evtol-services"> South Carolina </a>to explore initial use cases for its two-seat <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/skydrivehttps://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-26/new-funding-skydrive-unveils-two-seat-short-hop-evtol-aircraft">SD-05 vehicle</a>, which will have a preliminary range of just six miles.&nbsp;In 2022, it raised approximately $67 million in a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-26/new-funding-skydrive-unveils-two-seat-short-hop-evtol-aircraft">Series C funding round</a>.</span></span></span></p>
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center">
<article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-default">
  
        <div class="layout layout--onecol">
    <div class="layout__region layout__region--content">
      <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-media-image">
  
    
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/5.%20SD-05%20in%20the%20sky_%C2%A9SkyDrive.jpg" width="3780" height="2126" alt="SkyDrive's SD-05 eVTOL aircraft." title="SkyDrive has been selected to operate flights in its SD-05 eVTOL aircraft during Osaka's Smart Mobility Expo in 2025. (Image: SkyDrive)">

</div>
      
  </div>
<div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-caption">
  
    
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">SkyDrive has been selected to operate flights in its SD-05 eVTOL aircraft during Osaka's Smart Mobility Expo in 2025. (Image: SkyDrive)</div>
      
  </div>

    </div>
  </div>

  </article>

<figcaption>SkyDrive has been selected to operate flights in its SD-05 eVTOL aircraft during Osaka's Smart Mobility Expo in 2025. (Image: SkyDrive)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Charles Alcock

EHang recently conducted what it says was the first passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft flight in Japan with its EH216 autonomous vehicle. (Image: EHang)

Momentum Builds for eVTOL Aircraft Operations in Japan

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN