SkyDrive Inc. has officially received Approved Design Organization (ADO) certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, marking the first time a dedicated eVTOL developer in the country has achieved this status.
The certification, issued under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), serves as public verification that SkyDrive maintains the rigorous quality control and safety management systems required for aircraft design and post-design inspection. This regulatory framework is equivalent to the Design Organisation Approval issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Organization Designation Authorization used by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). By obtaining ADO status, SkyDrive is now authorized to conduct specific inspections that are typically performed by government authorities, effectively streamlining the engineering and development process.
As of April 2026, SkyDrive is one of only six companies in Japan to hold this certification, joining a small group of long-standing aerospace manufacturers. This milestone is a critical component of the company’s broader strategy to secure a Type Certificate, which validates the overall safety of the aircraft. The establishment of this certified design system is intended to solidify the roadmap toward the practical implementation and commercialization of eVTOL services starting in 2028.
Arnaud Coville, Chief Technology Officer at SkyDrive Inc., said, “Earning ADO certification is a testament to the relentless dedication of our entire team. From our engineers to our quality management specialists, we have built a world-class safety culture from the ground up. 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.”
The authority granted by the ADO framework allows the company to verify the integrity of its designs internally. This internal oversight is expected to increase the speed of design iterations and compliance testing.
Harald Nagler, Head of Airworthiness and Type Certification at SkyDrive Inc., added, “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. This allows us to move with greater speed in design iterations and compliance testing. We are now more confident than ever in our ability to meet our 2028 commercialization goals.”
By operating within this officially recognized framework, the company aims to accelerate its timeline toward commercial flight while maintaining close public-private collaboration to integrate seamless air mobility into the Japanese transportation ecosystem.
