This article is based on an official press release from Eve Air Mobility and SkyGrid.

Eve Air Mobility and SkyGrid Unveil Roadmap for Automated Air Traffic at Airspace Asia Pacific 2025

On December 9, 2025, amidst the backdrop of the Airspace Asia-Pacific conference in Hong Kong, two major players in the electric aviation sector released a unified vision for the future of urban skies. Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, and SkyGrid, a Wisk Aero company backed by Boeing, jointly published a white paper titled “Enabling Advanced Air Mobility – Automated Traffic Management Services for Low-Altitude Operations.”

The document addresses one of the most persistent hurdles facing the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry: scalability. While manufacturers race to certify electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the infrastructure required to manage thousands of simultaneous low-altitude flights remains a complex regulatory and technical challenge. The new white paper proposes a “federated model” designed to alleviate the burden on human air traffic controllers through high levels of automation.

A Federated Approach to Air Traffic Management

According to the joint release, the current human-centric Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems are ill-equipped to handle the high density of operations projected for the AAM sector. The white paper argues that attempting to scale existing voice-based, manual control methods would create an immediate bottleneck for the industry.

Instead, Eve and SkyGrid propose a collaborative framework involving Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and commercial Third-Party Service Providers (TSPs). Under this model:

• ANSPs (State Regulators): Would retain ultimate authority over the airspace, setting the “rules of the road,” safety boundaries, and performance requirements.
• TSPs (Commercial Tech Providers): Companies like SkyGrid would operate the digital infrastructure, managing the day-to-day coordination of flights through automated data exchange, dynamic routing, and conformance monitoring.

This approach aims to harmonize operations across different regions, ensuring that an eVTOL operating in Hong Kong adheres to similar digital protocols as one in São Paulo or London. The white paper outlines specific “Novel Data Services” required to make this work, including real-time situational awareness and automated alerts if an aircraft deviates from its approved flight path.

“Our vision is to ensure that Advanced Air Mobility is not only possible, but scalable, safe and sustainable… Asia-Pacific, in particular, presents an extraordinary opportunity to lead this transformation.”

, Luiz Mauad, VP Customer Services at Eve Air Mobility

Focus on the Asia-Pacific Market

The decision to launch this roadmap in Hong Kong is strategic. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is widely viewed as a critical launchpad for the AAM industry due to its high density of megacities and complex island geographies, which are ideal use cases for air taxis.

According to market data cited by Eve Air Mobility, the APAC region is projected to account for a significant portion of the global market. Eve’s Market Outlook estimates that by 2045, the region could host approximately 12,200 eVTOL aircraft, representing roughly 41% of the global fleet.

Nate Isbell, Head of Business Development at SkyGrid, emphasized that the technology to support this growth must be built now, rather than waiting for the aircraft to reach mass production.

“This white paper is not just a vision; it is an invitation for governments, ANSPs and industry leaders to join us in building the systems that will unlock Advanced Air Mobility at scale.”

, Nate Isbell, Head of Business Development at SkyGrid

Industry Context: Rivals Collaborating on Standards

The collaboration between Eve and SkyGrid represents a notable convergence of competing aerospace ecosystems. Eve is spun out of Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer, while SkyGrid is a subsidiary of Wisk Aero, which is fully owned by Boeing.

While Embraer and Boeing are traditional rivals in the commercial jet market, the nascent eVTOL sector requires unified standards to survive. If manufacturers were to build proprietary, incompatible traffic management systems, the airspace would likely become unmanageable for regulators. This white paper suggests a move toward interoperability, where “digital roads” are open to various aircraft types provided they can communicate with the TSP network.

This announcement follows a busy period for Eve Air Mobility. In late 2025, the company advanced its supply chain significantly, selecting BETA Technologies to supply electric pusher motors for its production aircraft, a deal reportedly worth up to $1 billion. Eve is currently in the final stages of testing its full-scale engineering prototype.

AirPro News Analysis

The publication of this white paper highlights a shift in the AAM narrative from “flying cars” to “digital infrastructure.” For years, the industry has faced a “chicken and egg” dilemma: regulators are hesitant to certify aircraft without a proven airspace management system, but developers struggle to build that system without certified aircraft to test it.

By proposing a federated model where commercial TSPs handle the heavy lifting of automation, Eve and SkyGrid are attempting to offer regulators a low-risk path forward. This model mimics the way internet service providers operate within government-regulated telecommunications frameworks, private companies handle the traffic, while the government sets the standards. For the Asia-Pacific region, where airspace is often heavily militarized or restricted, demonstrating that civilian eVTOLs can be managed automatically and precisely will be the key to unlocking the skies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Third-Party Service Provider (TSP) in aviation?

A TSP is a commercial entity that provides digital services to support air traffic management. In the context of drones and eVTOLs, TSPs handle tasks like flight planning, deconfliction, and tracking, relieving the burden on human air traffic controllers.

Why was this announced in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is hosting the Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 conference. The region is expected to be the largest market for eVTOLs, with projections suggesting it will hold 41% of the global fleet by 2045.

Are Eve and SkyGrid the same company?

No. Eve Air Mobility is an Embraer company, while SkyGrid is a subsidiary of Wisk Aero (owned by Boeing). Their collaboration signifies an industry-wide push for common standards.

Sources

• Eve Air Mobility & SkyGrid Press Release