SkyDrive receives ADO certification from Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau, becoming the first dedicated eVTOL developer in Japan to achieve the designation.
SkyDrive Inc. has received Approved Design Organization (ADO) certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The company is the first dedicated eVTOL developer in Japan to earn this designation. The ADO marks a key milestone in SkyDrive’s eVTOL certification roadmap, confirming its quality control and safety management systems for aircraft design and post-design inspection.
ADO Certification Advances SkyDrive’s eVTOL Certification Path
The ADO designation is equivalent to EASA’s Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and the FAA’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). SkyDrive joins only six companies in Japan holding this certification. The others are major, long-established aerospace manufacturers.
Under Japan’s Approved Organization System, certified companies conduct a portion of inspections normally performed by government authorities. This streamlines the eVTOL certification process. SkyDrive holds Certificate No. 313, covering Aircraft Design and Inspection, effective April 15, 2026.
“Earning ADO certification is a testament to the relentless dedication of our entire team,” said Arnaud Coville, Chief Technology Officer of SkyDrive. “This is a watershed moment for the social implementation of eVTOLs in Japan. We will continue to collaborate with regulatory authorities and our partners to accelerate the realization of a safe, trusted, and accessible air mobility revolution.”
2028 eVTOL Certification Target Gains Clearer Path
SkyDrive pursues a Type Certificate (TC) for its SD-05 model with a target commercial launch in 2028. The ADO status enables internal design verification, accelerating that timeline directly.
“The ADO certification grants us the authority to verify and guarantee the integrity of our designs internally, which is a game-changer for the efficiency of our Type Certification process,” said Harald Nagler, Head of Airworthiness and Type Certification at SkyDrive. “We are now more confident than ever in our ability to meet our 2028 commercialization goals.”
SkyDrive conducted demonstration flights of the SD-05 in Tokyo in February 2026. Production began at a Suzuki Motor Corporation facility in March 2024. The company pursues parallel eVTOL certification in Japan and the United States.
More information is available on the SkyDrive website.
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