Japan Airlines and Volocopter work together on drones for urban areas
Japan Airlines (JAL) and the German aircraft manufacturer Volocopter have entered into a cooperation on the development of drones for passenger and freight transport in the area of cities and urban centers. Already in February 2020, the Japan Airlines Innovation Fund invested in Volocopter as part of a third financing round. Volocopter intends to use the funds to advance the construction and market maturity of next-generation electrically powered cargo drones and air taxis. The agreement between JAL and Volocopter is particularly focused on the business opportunities in the Japanese market and how Volocopter’s eVTOL (vertical take-off and landing) technology can be used there.
Further details of the agreement also include the development of a permanent and sustainable business concept for air taxis in Japan. There will be a collaboration with local partners, cities and municipalities to determine the demand for such a service and to gain public acceptance. JAL and Volocopter expect commercial operation within the next three years. Volocopter develops drones and services in urban areas such as air taxis and drones for transporting goods. In October 2019 Volocopter successfully completed a manned test flight over Marina Bay in Singapore. Currently, an application for commercial certification of the VoloCity drone is being filed with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
For the recent agreement, JAL contributes its many years of expertise in flight safety and flight operations. In addition, JAL plans to use the new aviation services to transport medical supplies to remote regions, thereby supporting the company’s sustainability goals. In addition to JAL, other well-known Japanese companies announced their cooperation with Volocopter. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and MS&AB InterRisk, an insurance company and a management consultancy, support Volocopter in its entry into the Japanese market. According to analysts, the combined efforts of an airline, insurance company, management consultancy and aircraft manufacturer are a sign of a long-term business relationship with high chances of success of a commercial operation.
Unmanned aircrafts and drones are subject to numerous standards and certifications due to their novelty. Under these conditions, it is necessary to have a reliable overview of Japanese regulations, quality and safety standards in order to find a certification process that qualifies one’s own products for the Japanese market. MPR International GmbH offers comprehensive certification support for the following certifications for Japan: PSE, PSC, JIS, Radio and Telecommunication Certification, Energy Saving Label Program, Japan RoHS, VCCI and JAS. Our experienced international team will be happy to answer your questions about Japanese certifications and is available to assist you at any time.
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