SkyDrive signs MoU on eVTOL Operations in Japan with Japan Biz Aviation, Operator of HondaJet and Bell Helicopter Charters

TOYOTA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 8, 2026--

SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading compact eVTOL (*1) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, announces the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan Biz Aviation Co., Ltd. (JBZ), a major Japanese charter aircraft operator currently providing charter services for aircraft including the HondaJet and Bell helicopters.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260708627303/en/

Background to our partnership, future plans

SkyDrive currently holds a cumulative total of 427 aircraft orders from partners in Japan and overseas (the order book includes pre-orders for 354 aircraft and basic purchase agreements for 73 aircraft). Outside Japan, the majority of these orders come from companies that already operate helicopters or charter aircraft and are therefore already in possession of the air operator's certificate (AOC) required for aircraft operations.

The situation is different in Japan, where SkyDrive has received large numbers of orders from rail companies and other parties that do not currently hold an AOC (*2). As such, to expand the range of its operations and grow the eVTOL market in Japan, SkyDrive intends to contract companies with significant operational and maintenance experience to support the commercial operations of our aircraft, ensuring a safe, smooth, and reliable service launch. This first MoU with JBZ, a company with deep expertise in the field of business aircraft operations, is an agreement to move forward with concrete discussions on how these arrangements will be organized and implemented.

Details of this new MoU

Under the MoU, both parties agree to discuss:

Next Steps

SkyDrive will work together with JBZ and other future operations partners to ensure that parties purchasing SkyDrive aircraft can do so with complete confidence. This will allow strategic partners in all industries to own and generate revenue from SkyDrive aircraft, speeding the adoption of eVTOL technology across Japan.

Comments from the parties to the MoU

SkyDrive Inc. CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa

“I am delighted that we have been able to sign this MoU with JBZ, a specialist operator of business aircraft, including rotorcraft. The strategy of helping players from various industries purchase and fly eVTOL is a core part of our efforts to ensure widespread uptake of eVTOL technology and promote the use of our aircraft across Japan. Together with JBZ, we will build safe, robust and reliable flight operations frameworks that will deliver the new experience of advanced air mobility to the public as soon as possible.”

Shin Koizumi, Representative Director, Japan Biz Aviation Co., Ltd.

“We at JBZ are extremely honored to have concluded this MoU with SkyDrive over the future operations of eVTOL aircraft in the Japanese market. Our business, through the operation of aircraft including Honda Jets and Bell 429 helicopters, currently provides safety-first, high-value added mobility services that take into account the needs of the high-net worth individuals and other customers who entrust us with their aircraft.

We are working to promote business jet and helicopter charters as a new mobility option for travel around Japan. This MoU is an important additional step forward that further broadens our business scope, allowing us to apply the operational know-how developed through our ongoing businesses to the new fields of eVTOL and advanced air mobility.

The combination of SkyDrive’s technology and our operational knowledge will move us forward towards the goal of introducing advanced air mobility to passengers in Japan.”

About Japan Biz Aviation (J-Biz, JBZ)

Based at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Japan Biz Aviation (JBZ, pronounced "J-Biz") provides comprehensive aircraft services including commercial charter operations for the HondaJet, other business jets, and helicopters such as the Bell 429. The company handles aircraft operation and aircraft asset management under contract from aircraft owners. With a priority on safety, JBZ serves its customers with permission from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (aircraft operation and usage permission, granted under the Tokyo Civil Aviation Bureau permission No. 29). The company is focused on flexible operational and management practices that meet the needs of aircraft owners to deliver high value added air mobility services.

JBZ has also, since the launch of its business, pioneered joint aircraft ownership as a new ownership and usage option for general aviation in Japan, allowing a wider range of individual and corporate partners to generate value from aircraft assets. JBZ is a member of Japan General Aviation Service (JGAS) group which maintains aircraft, sells components and provides pilot training services.

URL: https://www.j-bizavi.com/

About SkyDrive Inc.

SkyDrive is a Japanese compact eVTOL company aiming “to take the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution”. The company began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 prior to official incorporation in 2018. Under its future vision for urban transportation, flying in eVTOLs will become a regular part of city life. In 2019, SkyDrive became the first company to fly a crewed eVTOL in Japan. In 2025, the company successfully showcased the eVTOL "SKYDRIVE", the company’s first eVTOL product, with demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo witnessed by thousands of visitors over a one-month period. SkyDrive began production of “SKYDRIVE” in March 2024 at a plant owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive's official production partner. SkyDrive has been working with civil aviation authorities in Japan and the US to obtain certification for “SKYDRIVE”, with the aim of launching the aircraft into service in 2028. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, and led by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, an engineer and entrepreneur.

For more information, please visit: https://skydrive.co.jp/en/

Editor’s Note:

(*1) “eVTOL” is an abbreviation for electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing. As the name suggests, eVTOL aircraft can take off and land without a runway. eVTOLs are powered by electricity and incorporate advanced, automatic, flight control technology.

(*2) Press releases on pre-orders already received by SkyDrive.
East Japan Railway Company: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/65609
Chodai Co., Ltd.: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/63599
Taiho Co., Ltd.: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/24228
MASC: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/69265
Tohoku Air Service: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/70577

SkyDrive signs MoU on eVTOL Operations in Japan with Japan Biz Aviation, Operator of HondaJet and Bell Helicopter Charters

SkyDrive signs MoU on eVTOL Operations in Japan with Japan Biz Aviation, Operator of HondaJet and Bell Helicopter Charters

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves broke up a combined perfect-game bid by Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers Jared Jones and Mason Montgomery in the seventh inning Wednesday night.

Jones started and struck out eight on 77 pitches, including 53 strikes, before being replaced by Montgomery at the start of the seventh. Montgomery got Michael Harris II to ground out to first before allowing a single to left field by Ozzie Albies, ending the bid at 6 1/3 innings.

Atlanta catcher Joey Bart hit a two-run home run off Dennis Santana with two outs in the eighth and the Braves won 3-0.

The 24-year-old Jones hasn't thrown more than 81 pitches in eight starts since returning May 20 after missing all of last season following ulnar collateral ligament internal brace surgery on May 21, 2025.

“It was fun. Felt good the whole game. It was just fun playing baseball," Jones said. "It does suck. Something’s cool coming on, but I’m on what? My eighth start off of surgery? I completely understand it, and it is what it is.”

Pirates manager Don Kelly said Jones was originally pegged for five innings, but was efficient enough to warrant a sixth.

“It's a tough one, man," Kelly said. “We've talked about it before. Health is the most important thing. Winning the game and then personal accomplishments (is) third. Wanting guys to stay healthy is the No. 1 thing with these guys because we need Jared for the rest of the season throwing the ball like that.”

Jones started the game with 10 straight fastballs, five topping 100 mph. His bid was nearly ended by Bart in the third inning, but a long fly ball to left off Jones’ slider was grabbed by Bryan Reynolds at the wall. He then struck out five of the next seven batters.

“I felt like I threw it where I needed to, except for the Joey Bart at-bat where he almost took me yard,” Jones said. "But outside of that, yeah, everything felt great today.”

A second-round pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Jones is 7-9 with a 4.19 ERA in two seasons in the majors. He lowered his ERA this season to 4.37 from 5.28 entering Wednesday.

Jones said he didn't entertain attempting to complete the perfect game.

“Not with the pitch count," he said. "Not really ever expecting to go nine right now, so that was never in my head.”

The Miami Marlins faced a nearly identical dilemma on Sunday when Eury Pérez used 92 pitches make it through seven perfect innings with eight strikeouts in his third start back from a leg strain. He was pulled for Lake Bachar to start the eighth and the Marlins allowed eight runs to the Athletics in the final two innings, but held on to win 9-8.

On Wednesday, Jones became the first pitcher in Pirates history to depart with a perfect game intact after at least six innings.

“His health is too important,” Kelly said. “Having not even approached anything like nine innings, and at 80 pitches, in essence, already, you're looking at 120 coming off of surgery. There was no way.”

There have been 24 perfect games in major league history. Most recently, Domingo Germán struck out nine in an 11-0 win for the New York Yankees against the Athletics at Oakland Coliseum on June 28, 2023.

On May 25, the Houston Astros provided the latest of 327 no-hitters in the history of the majors. Tatsuya Imai walked four and struck out two in the first six innings of a 9-0 win against the Texas Rangers before Steven Okert walked one in his only inning inning and Alimber Santa was perfect in the final two.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)