Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive reports it will launch a feasibility study to repurpose existing rooftop emergency landing sites in Osaka City as eVTOL vertiports. This project, part of the Cabinet Office’s Super City Initiative, will be conducted with collaborating partners including Chodai Co Ltd, Kansai Electric Power Co Inc, and Organization of Airport Facilitation, said the company in a press release.

The project will conduct a phased evaluation to determine the viability and prospects of repurposing existing building rooftop emergency landing zones in Osaka City into operational vertiports for eVTOL aircraft, focusing on the following core areas:

The study involves evaluating high-rise structures in Osaka City that feature established emergency landing zones (identified by an “H” symbol). By utilizing airspace maps, the project will categorize and examine flight operations by district and confirm compliance with Civil Aeronautics Act standards. The project will analyze locations where building-induced winds occur to clarify safe weather and operational requirements. Additionally, it will simulate noise levels during takeoff, landing and flight.

“To evaluate the feasibility of establishing alternate vertiports for eVTOLs, the survey will assess floor load capacities to withstand aircraft landings, map out passenger movement flows during flight diversions, and establish logistics for transporting aircraft in cases of mechanical failure,” said the company. “Additionally, it will evaluate the feasibility of installing charging infrastructure, determine necessary upgrades or new installations for power receiving and transforming equipment, and calculate estimated project costs.”

SkyDrive and its partners will consult with relevant organizations, including the Osaka Municipal Fire Department, to draft emergency scenarios and coexistence rules that balance the original purpose of “disaster response and lifesaving operations” with “ensuring safety in the daily operation of eVTOL.”

Following their collaboration at the Expo 2025 Osaka, SkyDrive and Osaka Metro are working toward the commercial launch of eVTOL services by approximately 2028 within Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, areas recognized by the Cabinet Office as “Super City National Strategic Special Zones” for their commitment to an “optimally mobile society” through advanced technology. A significant obstacle to the widespread adoption of this next-generation mobility is the scarcity of vertiport hubs. Establishing new takeoff and landing sites from the ground up is particularly impractical in dense urban centers where available open space is severely limited, said the company.

Currently, Osaka City contains 146 rooftop “emergency landing sites” (marked with an H), primarily on buildings over 100 meters tall as required by local fire safety regulations. While these sites constitute an established infrastructure network — complete with reinforced flooring, fire suppression systems, and lighting — their utilization is presently limited to emergency disaster relief. These valuable assets remain exclusively for emergency use because　securing commercial passenger transport permits for their use as alternate vertiports, remains a significant regulatory challenge.

The 146 existing rooftop emergency helipads across Osaka City were designed exclusively for disaster response, unlike most previous eVTOL hub projects that centered on constructing new infrastructure. “Consequently, comprehensive operational guidelines and targeted regulatory frameworks for converting these sites into commercial vertiports are still being developed,” said SkyDrive. “A central element of this initiative combines desktop research with direct on-site building assessments. This dual approach provides the concrete operational and safety data required to obtain regulatory clearances. Ultimately, the insights gained will inform future vertiport construction standards. By adapting this methodology to other regions with comparable needs, we seek to accelerate the broader integration of next-generation mobility into daily life.”

The company has also announced the appointments of Taiji Ono as executive vice president and head of global business, and Gonzalo Ramos as global commercial officer. “Under this new executive leadership structure, SkyDrive will accelerate its preparations for commercial operation and service launches in Japan and around the world, specifically advancing route development and establishing operational frameworks,” said SkyDrive

For more information

https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/73083/#:~:text=Building%20on%20its,Editor%E2%80%99s%20Notes%3A

SkyDrive Strengthens Executive Leadership to Accelerate Global Commercialization and Business Expansion – SkyDrive Inc.

(Image: SkyDrive)