SkyDrive Inc., a Japan-based manufacturer of compact electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Gold Coast Helitours, a helicopter operator based on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The agreement represents SkyDrive’s first LOI with an Australian operator for the introduction of its aircraft. The companies have reached a basic agreement covering the potential purchase of up to five SKYDRIVE SD-05 eVTOL aircraft, with specific pricing and a delivery schedule targeting two aircraft in 2028 and three in 2029.
The proposed sightseeing route for the aircraft has also been mutually agreed by the two companies.
The partnership comes as the Gold Coast advances Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiatives amid demand for sustainable transportation options and quieter mobility experiences. The region is also an established resort destination with an existing helicopter sightseeing sector.
Gold Coast Helitours has a long-standing record of helicopter flight operations and plans to use the characteristics of eVTOL aircraft to introduce a quieter and environmentally friendly air travel option and develop a new tourism offering in the region.
SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours plan to launch what they describe as Australia’s first eVTOL sightseeing service in 2028. The proposed service will operate from the existing heliport at Marina Mirage in Main Beach.
The planned sightseeing flight will be an approximately 10-minute scenic loop covering the Broadwater, Southport and Surfers Paradise, with Marina Mirage serving as the takeoff and landing point.
Ahead of the planned 2028 commercial launch, SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours will work with regulatory authorities to secure the required type certification. The partners also plan to develop a dedicated vertiport and a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Southport Airfield as part of the infrastructure required for future operations.
In the longer term, Southport Airfield is planned as a central maintenance hub for a broader eVTOL network connecting the Gold Coast city centre, major commercial districts and Gold Coast Airport.
“For many years, we have provided our guests with breathtaking views of the Gold Coast from the sky. By adding incredibly quiet and environmentally friendly eVTOL aircraft to our fleet, we can offer an unprecedented new era of air travel. This beautiful coastline is the perfect stage for such a launch,” said Scott Menzies, Chief Pilot and Director of Gold Coast Helitours.
“Gold Coast Helitours is an outstanding partner with a proven history of safe operations and a clear, forward-looking vision for next-generation mobility. We are profoundly honored to announce our first aircraft introduction agreement in Australia alongside an operator with such industry-leading ambition,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive Inc.
