Vertiport operator UrbanV and Japan Airport Consultants, Inc. (JAC) announced a strategic partnerships on June 12, 2026, to develop ground infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in Japan. The agreement positions the two companies as the technical leads for vertiport development within a broader Tokyo-focused consortium spearheaded by Japan Airlines (JL) and Archer Aviation.

In a press release issued by UrbanV, the companies detailed plans to align local Japanese AAM initiatives with global regulations standards established by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The initial focus will center on the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, laying the physical groundwork required for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to operate in dense urban environments.

Integrating with the Tokyo eVTOL program

The infrastructure agreement directly supports Japan’s ongoing push to commercialize passenger eVTOL flights. In November 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government selected a consortium led by Japan Airlines for the first phase of its eVTOL Implementation Program. UrbanV and JAC will now serve as the strategic technical partners responsible for designing and integrating the vertiports required for this specific initiative.

Takeya Hirano, General Manager of the Planning and Development Department at JAC, highlighted the necessity of merging global insights with local expertise to navigate complex urban and aviation regulations.

“As Japan moves toward the social implementation of Advanced Air Mobility, it is essential to combine international experience with a deep understanding of Japan’s airport, aviation, regulatory and urban environments,” Hirano stated.

Hirano added that JAC will leverage its background in traditional aviation infrastructure to support the realization of a socially accepted AAM ecosystem in Japan.

Fleet scale and the Archer Midnight

The physical infrastructure developed by UrbanV and JAC will primarily support operations utilizing the Archer Midnight aircraft. In November 2024, Archer Aviation and Soracle Corporation, a joint venture between Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation, announced a strategic alliance to launch air taxi operations across Japan.

According to previous consortium announcements, Soracle intends to purchase up to 100 Archer Midnight aircraft to service these routes. The intended orders carries an approximate value of $500 million, representing a significant capital commitment to the Japanese AAM market.

UrbanV Chairman Ivan Bassato noted the importance of the Japanese market for the company’s international expansion strategy, which will eventually explore opportunities beyond Japan.

“Japan is globally recognized for its leadership in technology and innovation. We are honored to enter this market through a solid and long-term partnership with Japan Airport Consultants, a trusted local leader,” Bassato said.

AirPro News analysis

We view the UrbanV and JAC partnership as a necessary maturation step for the Japanese AAM sector. While aircraft orders and consortium formations generate headlines, the physical and regulatory integration of vertiports remains the primary bottleneck for eVTOL commercialization globally. By explicitly targeting alignment with EASA, FAA, and ICAO standards, this partnership indicates that the Japan Airlines consortium intends to build an infrastructure network capable of supporting multiple certification aircraft types in the future, rather than a closed ecosystem limited to a single manufacturer. Securing a dedicated infrastructure partner moves the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s eVTOL program from the conceptual planning phase into concrete urban integration.

Sources: UrbanV

Spanish materials supplier MEL Composites is providing advanced carbon fiber and core materials to ELA Aviación for the production of the Eclipse REVO, a new fully enclosed, two-seat autogyro capable of extremely short takeoffs.

According to a project case study released by MEL Composites, the partnerships supports the manufacturing of next-generation gyroplanes at ELA Aviación’s facility in Fuente Obejuna, Córdoba. The integration of lightweight composite structures allows the Rotax 916is-powered Eclipse REVO to achieve takeoff distances as short as 10 meters.

Material specifications and manufacturing

MEL Composites, headquartered in Vilassar de Mar, Barcelona, supplies a specific range of products for the aircraft’s construction. The materials include PVC foam cores, 3K and 6K carbon fabrics, stitched multiaxial carbon reinforcements, and vacuum consumables. These components are critical for reducing the overall weight of the airframe while maintaining structural integrity.

Eduardo Galofre, CEO of MEL Composites, stated that the company recently expanded its manufacturing capacity to provide more options for custom-shaped core material kits to meet growing aerospace demand.

“The aircraft manufactured by ELA demonstrate how carbon composite engineering can continue to improve aerospace performance, safety, and manufacturing efficiency, while offering exciting new mobility solutions for both the commercial and private aviation markets,” Galofre said.

ELA Aviación production milestones

ELA Aviación began experimental development of composite aircraft in the 1980s before officially transitioning to commercial manufacturing approximately 30 years ago. Since its founding, the manufacturer has delivered over 1,000 aircraft worldwide.

The Eclipse REVO represents the latest iteration of the company’s design philosophy. ELA Aviación describes the aircraft as the first fully enclosed, two-seater autogyro manufactured entirely from carbon composite. The lightweight fuselage, combined with the Rotax 916is engine, effectively eliminates the need for a traditional runway by enabling the 10-meter takeoff roll.

AirPro News analysis

We view the partnership between MEL Composites and ELA Aviación as indicative of a broader trend in the light sport and experimental aircraft sectors. As carbon composite materials become more accessible and manufacturing techniques mature, smaller original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can achieve performance metrics previously reserved for larger aerospace firms. The 10-meter takeoff capability of the Eclipse REVO positions it as a highly competitive option in the advanced air mobility space, particularly for operators requiring off-airport or short-field performance without the regulatory and mechanical complexity of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) systems.

Sources: MEL Composites

This article summarizes reporting by eVTOL Insights by Jason Pritchard.

British electric aviation developer Sora Aviation announced on June 25, 2026, the successful completion of a subscale vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight testing program for its proposed 30-seat S-1 aircraft at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre in Wales. The campaign generated critical flight data that will directly inform the design of the full-scale prototype, which is targeted to fly in 2028.

According to reporting by eVTOL Insights, the subscale demonstrator completed dozens of flights over several months. The testing allowed engineers to evaluate the aircraft’s stability, control, and flight characteristics during repeated VTOL operations in a lower-risk environment. This milestone is intended to de-risk the technology before the company begins construction on the full-scale prototype.

Subscale testing and validation strategy

Sora Aviation Chief Executive Officer Furqan Afzal emphasized the company’s comprehensive approach to development. As reported by eVTOL Insights, Afzal stated the manufacturers invested in a rigorous validation strategy that combines simulation, laboratory testing, wind tunnel campaigns, and representative flight demonstrators.

“This milestone demonstrates the maturity of our development approach and the strength of the engineering foundations underpinning the S-1 programme,” Afzal said.

The data gathered at the Welsh testing facility will be used to refine the S-1’s engineering foundations. Aerospace Global News reported that Afzal views the flight data as validation of the aircraft’s potential, noting that the results reinforce the company’s confidence that the S-1 can deliver the required performance, safety, and economics for advanced air mobility operations.

S-1 program timeline and commercial milestones

The S-1 is designed as a 30-seat electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Aerospace Global News reported that the full-scale prototype is projected to make its first flight in 2028. The flight testing milestone follows earlier component validation efforts. On January 20, 2026, Sora Aviation began testing the S-1’s energy storage system at a bespoke battery performance laboratory at the IAAPS centre, in collaboration with the University of Bath.

The company has also secured early commercial interest and explored alternative applications for the airframe. In March 2025, South Korean charter operator Moviation signed a pre-order agreement for 20 S-1 aircraft, intending to deploy them on high-demand airport shuttle routes, according to Aviation International News. Aviation Week reported in May 2026 that Sora Aviation was studying a conceptual hybrid-electric variant of the 30-seat aircraft for potential use as a United Kingdom Navy helicopter.

AirPro News analysis

We view the completion of subscale flight testing as a standard but essential risk-reduction step for any novel eVTOL configuration. By validating aerodynamic models and flight control laws on a subscale airframe, Sora Aviation can identify and correct stability issues before committing to the high costs of full-scale prototype manufacturing. The 30-seat capacity of the S-1 places it in a larger size category than many competing eVTOL designs, which typically target four to six passengers. This larger payload requirement will place significant demands on the aircraft’s battery and thermal management systems, making the concurrent testing at the IAAPS centre critical to the program’s viability.

Sources: Sora Aviation