SkyDrive ‘Flying Car’ Signs Australia’s First eVTOL Aircraft Agreement With Gold Coast Helicopter Operator

Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer, SkyDrive, has signed a Letter of Intent with Gold Coast-based helicopter operator, Gold Coast Helitours, marking the company’s first agreement with an Australian operator for the introduction of its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Under the agreement, the two parties have reached terms for the purchase of up to five SKYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft (Model SD-05), with a delivery schedule targeting two aircraft in 2028 and three in 2029. A proposed route for sightseeing services has also been agreed upon.

The deal positions the Gold Coast as a testing ground for advanced air mobility in Australia, with plans for dedicated infrastructure including a vertiport and maintenance facility.

Scenic Flights Over Surfers Paradise

SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours plan to launch what would be Australia’s first eVTOL sightseeing service in 2028, operating from the existing heliport at Marina Mirage in Main Beach.

The proposed route would involve an approximate 10-minute scenic loop flying over the Broadwater, Southport and Surfers Paradise.

Marina Mirage is currently undergoing a $500 million redevelopment by the Makris Group into a waterfront destination featuring a 126-key Luxury Collection Resort by Marriott International, 38 residences, a 78-berth superyacht marina with helipad access and dining, retail and wellness precincts. That redevelopment is scheduled for completion in 2029.

Infrastructure And Certification

Ahead of the targeted 2028 commercial launch, SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours will work to secure the necessary type certification from regulatory authorities.

As a foundation for operations, the partners plan to develop a dedicated vertiport and a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Southport Airfield.

The longer-term vision involves using Southport Airfield as a central maintenance hub to support a broader eVTOL network connecting the Gold Coast city centre, commercial districts and Gold Coast Airport.

A New Addition To An Established Fleet

Gold Coast Helitours operates from a dedicated heliport at Marina Mirage and runs a fleet that includes the Airbus H125. The company has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and offers services spanning sightseeing flights, charters, corporate transport, aerial filming, fire and rescue and cargo transport. It holds a zero-accident safety record.

Chief Pilot and Director of Gold Coast Helitours, Scott Menzies, highlighted the potential for eVTOL aircraft to reshape the tourism offering on the Gold Coast.

“For many years, we have provided our guests with views of the Gold Coast from the sky,” Menzies remarked. “By adding quiet and environmentally friendly eVTOL aircraft to our fleet, we can offer a new era of air travel. This coastline is the right stage for such a launch.”

SkyDrive’s Path To Commercialisation

SkyDrive began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 before being formally incorporated in 2018. In 2019, it became the first company to fly a crewed eVTOL in Japan.

The company showcased its SKYDRIVE aircraft with demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo in 2025, and began production in March 2024 at a plant owned by production partner, Suzuki Motor Corporation.

SkyDrive has been working with civil aviation authorities in Japan and the US to obtain certification, with the aim of launching the aircraft into commercial service in 2028.

Founder and CEO of SkyDrive, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, described Gold Coast Helitours as a partner with a history of safe operations and a clear vision for next-generation mobility.

“We are honoured to announce our first aircraft introduction agreement in Australia alongside an operator with such ambition,” Fukuzawa added.

The Gold Coast’s established helicopter sightseeing sector and its status as a resort destination make the region a candidate for early adoption of eVTOL technology, with growing global interest in sustainable and low-noise urban air mobility driving investment across the sector.

Last Updated on August 18, 2026 by Nick Ross