Indonesian helicopter firm Whitesky signs for up to 30 Japanese eVTOLS from SkyDrive, plans Jakarta flights from 2028
August 22, 2025
Indonesian aviation firm Whitesky has signed a deal with SkyDrive, which will see the Japanese eVTOL developer supply up to 30 of its aircraft to the Jakarta-based helicopter operator.
The agreement, signed on August 21, 2025, is expected to see SkyDrive aircraft operating passenger flights over the Indonesian capital from 2028. Meanwhile, the companies also intend to explore other applications for the still-under-development aircraft, with a firm order planned for the future once feasibility flight operations have been completed.
SkyDrive has been involved in the eVTOL sector for many years, since it first began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014. The company is currently testing and demonstrating its SkyDrive SD-05 development model, the production of which commenced in March 2024 at a plant in Japan owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation.
The SkyDrive is a three-seat light eVTOL aircraft powered by electric fuel cells, capable of carrying one pilot and two passengers up to 25 miles (40 km) at speeds of up to 62 mph (100 km/h).
According to the company, “SkyDrive’s compact, zero-emission aircraft is aimed at playing a role in easing traffic congestion in urban centres, while simultaneously reducing environmental impact and enhancing access to remote industrial areas.”
Meanwhile, Whitesky Aviation is a leading Indonesian aviation company that has been operating across the Indonesian archipelago since 2010. Operating with a full Air Operator Certificate (AOC), Whitesky operates a mixed fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, specialising in non-scheduled charter services tailored to the corporate, private, medical, and tourism sectors in the country.
Details of the SkyDrive eVTOL agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, the partners intend to launch passenger flights across the traffic-congested city of Jakarta from Whitesky’s base at Cengkareng Heliport, which is located adjacent to the city’s primary airport, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International (CGK).
To supply the capacity to launch these services, Whitesky has pre-ordered and will take delivery of a fleet of up to 30 SkyDrive aircraft initially, with the parties “working toward concluding a firm order agreement for the SkyDrive aircraft as part of the long-term roadmap.
“This will represent a significant milestone in their strategic collaboration and pave the way for commercial eVTOL operations in both urban and remote settings across Indonesia,” says SkyDrive.
The two companies aim to launch eVTOL sightseeing services in central Jakarta by 2028. In preparation for scalable operations, Whitesky will lead the development of the core infrastructure required by constructing a superhub-and-spoke system suited to Indonesia’s complex geographic and industrial terrain.
SkyDrive is aiming for growth
Through the newly penned agreement, SkyDrive aims to build on the organisation’s reputation on the international stage, with a presence already building through initiatives underway in the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.
“We are pleased to partner with Whitesky, one of Indonesia’s leading helicopter operators,” commented Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive. “Urban areas, particularly Jakarta, face severe traffic congestion, and eVTOLs are highly anticipated as a solution.”
“With its strong safety record, Whitesky is the only company authorised to operate helicopter taxis at the heliport next to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and has already taken steps to address these challenges through its helicopter taxi services. We are confident that Whitesky is the ideal partner for us.”
“In the mining sector, eVTOLs hold significant potential, offering a sustainable alternative to both helicopters and ground vehicles, which is expected to help reduce CO₂ emissions. Looking ahead, we will continue working together to explore and shape a viable business model, with the goal of building a sustainable and long-term business foundation in Indonesia,” he added.
“We believe the future of electric air mobility lies in its seamless integration across both urban and industrial landscapes,” says Ari Nurwanda, Chief Commercial Officer of Whitesky Aviation. “Our strategic alliance with SkyDrive is a pivotal step toward realising that vision in Indonesia.”
The companies see their partnership as shaping a new era of connectivity across the archipelago.
“From easing urban congestion to enabling sustainable logistics in remote sectors, this partnership reflects our commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and inclusive advancement in aviation,” Nurwanda concluded.
Demonstration flights underway
To demonstrate the SkyDrive’s future capabilities, and as part of the aircraft’s ongoing development, the company has been carrying out a series of demonstration flights during Expo 2025, currently being held in Osaka, Japan, until October 13, 2025.
In front of the general public, invited dignitaries and other members of the international aviation community, the SkyDrive has completed regular unmanned flights lasting for three minutes at a height of around five metres.
The purpose of these flights is to introduce the concept of eVTOL flight to the wider public and to promote the safety and sustainability credentials of the SkyDrive aircraft as it pushes toward full certification.
“I hope that the spectators gathered at the EXPO vertiport will now find it easier to imagine how eVTOL aircraft flights will in the future become a regular part of our daily routine,” said SkyDrive’s Tomohiro Fukuzawa.
eVTOL arena hotting up
August 2025 has been a hotbed of activity for the eVTOL community. This latest announcement by SkyDrive and Whitesky comes as rival eVTOL developers announced major milestones in their own programs.
While Joby took its first piloted air taxi flight between two public airports in California, Archer flew its Midnight on its longest flight yet. Covering 55 miles, it saw the aircraft travel at over 126 miles an hour. These latest achievements follow the UK’s Vertical Aerospace making its first airport-to-airport flight with the VX4 in July 2025.
