Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer SkyDrive, and Bravo Air, a private air charter service operator, have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the purchase of up to five SD-05 SKYDRIVE aircraft.
The agreement also includes the formation of a partnership to conduct joint studies in the development of use cases originating from Augusta Regional Airport to scale Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) within the region including the adoption of SkyDrive’s business model for air taxi services.
This collaboration builds off SkyDrive’s existing relationship with key stakeholders in South Carolina and the progress made to make its air taxi services available to potential customers within the region. It also marks a significant milestone in SkyDrive’s journey to bring safe, sustainable, efficient air travel to local communities.
According to SkyDrive, the partnership with Bravo Air represents a bold step forward in expanding the company’s presence beyond South Carolina and into Georgia. SkyDrive is aiming to establish a thriving eVTOL air taxi network that connects Augusta Regional Airport to various destinations across the region, providing a seamless last-mile mobility experience for commuters and travelers alike.
SkyDrive is committed to collaborating closely with Bravo Air and the State of Georgia to cultivate a robust operational AAM infrastructure that benefits regional airports and operators with the goal of creating a connected, environmentally friendly air taxi network that serves the needs of local communities while promoting economic growth and opportunity.
SkyDrive has indicated their intent to continue working alongside key stakeholders in both Georgia and South Carolina to make this vision a reality and invites all Part 135 Operators and related stakeholders interested to join us on this thrilling journey into the future of the AAM industry.
Dann Standard, VP Operations of Bravo Air, said; “Bravo Air is thrilled to be working with SkyDrive on revolutionizing AAM in the United States. Bravo Air was honored to have recently visited SkyDrive in Japan and had the opportunity to meet the teams working diligently to bring AAM development into a reality. We are excited to be a part of a collaborative effort to bring more environmentally conscious air travel options to the Augusta area and beyond.”
“We are pleased to welcome SkyDrive to the Augusta Regional Airport and the Central Savannah River Area,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson. “We see our vision for a greener future coming to fruition with companies starting to adopt these new electric aircraft and embracing these new eco-friendly technologies.”
“We would like to congratulate SkyDrive and Bravo Air on their new partnership,” said Mr. Herbert Judon, Executive Director. “The Augusta Regional Airport staff have worked diligently to prepare the infrastructure necessary to support the needs of this new industry. We are pleased to see this nascent industry start to grow and expand in our market.”
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive, added; “As we embark on this new partnership with Bravo Air, we are thrilled to witness not only the growth of SkyDrive but also the broader eVTOL industry in the U.S. market. This collaboration with Bravo Air marks a significant step forward in our shared objective of advancing AAM development, particularly in the Southeast region in the U.S. We are excited about the transformative potential of this partnership and the opportunities it presents for innovation, sustainability, and continued progress in our industry.”
