SkyDrive Showcases Full-Scale eVTOL Replica Overseas for the First Time in Indonesia
Public-Private Cooperation for eVTOL Commercialisation Grows in Indonesia
Market demand in Indonesia has been confirmed, and efforts to obtain certification are accelerating.
SkyDrive Inc., a leading Japanese developer of compact eVTOL aircraft, has proudly announced the success of a promotional event held with leading Indonesian helicopter operator Whitesky Aviation. The two-day event on 23-24 June at Whitesky’s Cengkareng Heliport, strategically located next to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, confirmed demand for eVTOL aircraft from prospective customers in the mining and agricultural sectors, as well as from government organisations.
SkyDrive sees growth opportunities in Indonesia due to various factors affecting living standards and productivity in both urban and rural areas. Each year, economic losses from traffic congestion in the Jakarta metropolitan area are estimated to reach approximately 65 trillion rupiah. The mining industry, a major industry in various Indonesian regions contributing around 10 per cent of regional GDP, and the country’s vast plantation areas, covering more than 15 million hectares, experience logistical delays and disaster response challenges due to underdeveloped infrastructure.
During the promotional event, SkyDrive exhibited a full-scale replica of the SKYDRIVE (SkyDrive Model SD-05) for the first time outside Japan. SkyDrive also presented several proposals to participants regarding the practical application of eVTOLs to address social issues that Indonesia is currently working to resolve.
History of SkyDrive and Whitesky Cooperation
SkyDrive and Whitesky formed a strategic partnership for the launch of eVTOL operations in Indonesia in August 2025. Since then, the two parties have worked together to discuss the future of the business and develop specific business plans.
The cooperation between the two companies began with a focus on addressing the severe traffic congestion currently affecting the quality of life in Jakarta. One problem caused by congestion is the slow ground travel between Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the city centre. Because Whitesky manages the Cengkareng Heliport, strategically located next to the airport, an air taxi service between the airport and the city centre became a suitable starting point for discussing the feasibility of future urban eVTOL routes.
Discussions between SkyDrive and Whitesky on reducing traffic congestion in urban areas were followed by further studies on the potential role of eVTOLs in supporting the mining and agricultural industries, which play an important role in driving Indonesia’s sustainable economic development.
Although natural resource mining is a major industry on several Indonesian islands such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Sumatra, mine sites are often located in areas with limited road infrastructure. This condition leads to inefficiencies and logistical delays when providing medical care to victims of workplace accidents in these areas, which can occur several times a week.
In addition to the mining sector, the two companies are also exploring potential cooperation in the agricultural sector due to the vast agricultural land in Indonesia. Although drones are currently used to detect forest fires and conduct surveillance patrols over large areas, long distances can limit the effectiveness of drone use.
As discussions between SkyDrive and Whitesky evolved from urban air taxi services to eVTOL services for regional industries, it became increasingly clear that eVTOLs have the potential to save operational costs and reduce environmental impact in both scenarios. With these considerations, this event was organised to build momentum for realising various specific eVTOL applications across all these sectors.
Proposed eVTOL Applications
Following initial discussions focused on the use of eVTOL aircraft for urban air taxi services, SkyDrive and Whitesky are now continuing concrete studies on the application of eVTOLs in various key regional industries as described below.
Urban air taxi services in the Jakarta metropolitan area and its surroundings: Fast transportation services that can avoid urban congestion for passengers travelling from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to the centre of Jakarta, including surrounding smart city areas.
Tourism and business travel in Bali and the new capital city, Nusantara: Services connecting tourist destinations and business centres, offering efficient and environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
Use of eVTOLs in the mining industry on the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Sumatra: Services at mining sites that require long journeys by car or bus due to poor road access. This includes shuttle services for engineers and other employees to mining sites and emergency medical services equivalent to medical helicopter services for handling workplace accidents and natural disasters.
Use of eVTOLs in oil palm plantations, paper industry plantations, and large-scale sugarcane plantations: Site monitoring and patrol services, as required by owners and managers of large-scale agricultural plantations. Maximum flight distance limitations restrict the effectiveness of drone surveillance on very large plantations. eVTOLs can also quickly detect and address forest fires that frequently strike plantations, especially during the dry season.
Currently, some of these services still use conventional helicopters. Replacing helicopters with eVTOL aircraft will result in lower operational costs, fewer emissions, and quieter operations.
Event Summary
Event date: 23 June 2026 (Tuesday) - 24 June 2026 (Wednesday)
Location: Cengkareng Heliport, Jakarta, Indonesia
Key participants: Indonesian government officials from ministries responsible for transport and the economy.