Login/Register
Eve Air Mobility and Skyscape Tie Up First Urban ATM Deal in Japan
Kevin Rozario
February 21, 2024
Example of a vertiport concept.
© Eve Air Mobility
Eve Air Mobility has partnered with SkyScape, a vertiport startup established in Osaka, Japan, to use Eve’s Urban ATM (air traffic management) system as a part of the advanced air mobility (AAM) operations concept published by the Japanese government.
With Skyscape onboard, Eve now has 13 urban ATM customers. The Japanese vertiport development and management company also becomes Eve’s sixth urban ATM vertiport customer worldwide in a market that’s been gaining momentum.
“This agreement represents a key milestone for Eve as Skyscape becomes our first urban ATM customer in Japan,” David Rottblatt, vice president of sales and government affairs at Eve Air Mobility said in a statement. “Japan has been very proactive in pursuing urban air mobility and Eve’s urban ATM solution will play a critical role in helping to transport eVTOL passengers quickly and safely in densely populated cities in the future.”
Skyscape, headquartered in Osaka, claims to be the only VDMC (vertiport development management company) in Japan. Its CEO and Founder Asa Quesenberry said that the company was keen to “get us closer to launching real AAM services” adding: “Working directly with Eve pushes us one step closer to the reality we’re looking to create and enable the variety of aviation operations we’re planning to offer from our facilities.”
Eve, a listed company on the New York Stock Exchange—originally spun off by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer in May 2022—has developed an urban ATM software solution that it describes as “a key enabler to the efficient implementation and scalability of urban air mobility” by providing services for air navigation service providers, urban authorities, fleet operators, vertiport operators, and other UAM stakeholders.
The solution includes UAM flight coordination, vertiport automation airside support, airspace flow management, and conformance management.
Eve's prototype eVTOL design.
© Eve Air Mobility
Skyscape's Quesenberry is keen to “get us closer to launching real AAM services.”
© Skyscape
A Long ‘To-do’ List
As part of the agreement, the two companies will collaborate in several ways including promoting the UAM concept in Japan and the test and trial of urban ATM software including data collection and sharing.
The companies will also work together on showcasing eVTOL design and testing, vertiport design, operation certification, and future autonomous operation development at Skyscape locations. This includes a planned country research site known as the Integrated Aviation Center (IAC) though a timeline for that is not available.
Skyscape claims it is taking a “pioneering, community-first approach” to vertiports. It is focused on services and facility supplies based on modular builds using ready-made units that house various elements of vertiport operations.
The aim is that these units will allow site developers to design aviation facilities and vertiports with only those elements that apply to their situation and use case. The units are intended to make use of upcycled conex containers as well as high-grade aluminum for quick set-up as well as resilience through each facility’s life cycle.
Using this method, Skyscape hopes to develop aviation facilities in a speedy fashion and support a high number of co-located services, not just eVTOL operations. Options include first response, medical deliveries, and security.
Backed by Embraer’s aircraft design and manufacturing know-how, Eve has an eVTOL design under development (see image above) that is 100% electric and can carry four passengers plus the pilot. When uncrewed flight is certified, the same aircraft will be able to take up to six passengers, each carrying a standard carry-on bag.