Gold Coast Helitours To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL Aircraft

Australian rotorcraft operator Gold Coast Helitours plans to add SkyDrive’s three-seat SD-05 eVTOL aircraft to its charter fleet. On Tuesday, the Japanese manufacturer signed a letter of intent with the prospective customer covering the purchase of five aircraft.

SkyDrive is targeting Japanese type certification in 2028. This would then need to be validated in countries including Australia, where the company has an anticipated customer base. The agreement with Gold Coast Helitours calls for a pair of SD-05s to be delivered before the end of 2028, with three more to follow in 2029.

Gold Coast Helitours announced initial plans for eVTOL sightseeing tours operating from a heliport at the Marina Mirage resort on the Queensland city’s oceanfront. In the longer term, the operator wants to offer flight connections to Gold Coast city center and Gold Coast Airport (YBCG), as well as to establish an eVTOL aircraft maintenance hub at Southport Airfield. SkyDrive also has prospective customers in Japan, Taiwan, India and the U.S.

Having run a rotorcraft charter service for the past 30 years, Gold Coast Helitours operates a fleet including Airbus H125s and Robinson R44s. In addition to sightseeing flights, the company does aerial survey work and corporate transportation. The Marina Mirage site is currently undergoing a $354 million redevelopment, including a superyacht marina and a Marriott hotel.