SkyDrive研究屋顶垂直港口转换

5th October 2026

News

The Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive will launch a feasibility study into repurposing existing rooftop emergency landing sites in Osaka City as eVTOL vertiports. 

This project, part of the Cabinet Office’s Super City Initiative, will be conducted with partners such as Chodai, Kansai Electric Power, and Organization of Airport Facilitation.

Unlike the global eVTOL market’s primary focus on inter-city transport between major airports and suburban heliports, SkyDrive aims to make daily intra-city travel accessible using compact, quiet, and agile aircraft. This initiative represents a major milestone toward establishing eVTOLs as a practical, everyday transit option in central Osaka.

The project will conduct a phased evaluation to determine the viability and prospects of repurposing existing building rooftop emergency landing zones in Osaka City into operational vertiports for eVTOL aircraft.

The study involves evaluating high-rise structures in Osaka City that feature established emergency landing zones (identified by an “H” symbol). By utilising airspace maps, the project will categorise and examine flight operations by district and confirm compliance with Civil Aeronautics Act standards.

The project will also analyse locations where building-induced winds occur to clarify safe weather and operational requirements. Additionally, it will simulate noise levels during takeoff, landing and flight.

To evaluate the feasibility of establishing alternate vertiports for eVTOLs, the survey will assess floor load capacities to withstand aircraft landings, map out passenger movement flows during flight diversions, and establish logistics for transporting aircraft in cases of mechanical failure. Additionally, it will evaluate the feasibility of installing charging infrastructure, determine necessary upgrades or new installations for power receiving and transforming equipment, and calculate estimated project costs.

SkyDrive and its partners will consult with relevant organisations, including the Osaka Municipal Fire Department, to draft emergency scenarios and coexistence rules that balance the original purpose of “disaster response and lifesaving operations” with “ensuring safety in the daily operation of eVTOLs”.

The 146 existing rooftop emergency helipads across Osaka City were designed exclusively for disaster response, unlike most previous eVTOL hub projects that centred on constructing new infrastructure. Consequently, comprehensive operational guidelines and targeted regulatory frameworks for converting these sites into commercial vertiports are still being developed.

A central element of this initiative combines desktop research with direct on-site building assessments. This dual approach provides the concrete operational and safety data required to obtain regulatory clearances. Ultimately, the insights gained will inform future vertiport construction standards. By adapting this methodology to other regions with comparable needs, we seek to accelerate the broader integration of next-generation mobility into daily life.

SkyDrive

A rendering of how an emergency helipad might look when converted into a vertiport