Skyports Infrastructure has secured nine Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) subsidy projects across six Japanese prefectures for 2026, achieving a 100 percent success rate on its applications for the year.

Announced in a company press release on September 15, 2026, the project wins span Osaka, Hyogo, Oita, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Mie prefectures. The geographic spread indicates a shift in the Japanese AAM market from Commercial-Aircraft development milestones toward the practical Manufacturing and commercial planning required to launch passenger services.

Regional Infrastructure and Feasibility Projects

The nine projects involve Partnerships with major Japanese corporations to evaluate vertiport locations, commercial feasibility, and network integration. In Hyogo Prefecture alone, Skyports and Kanematsu Corporation will lead four separate projects covering Sumoto City on Awaji Island, Kinosaki Onsen, the Kobe Waterfront, and Arima Onsen.

In Osaka, the two companies are developing the basic design and business case for a future maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Osaka City, alongside vertiport candidate site evaluations. Further east, Skyports is working to integrate a vertiport around the Linear Chuo Shinkansen station in Yamanashi Prefecture, while partnering with Suzuyo Corporation for business feasibility and site surveys in the Shizuoka City area.

Strategic Partnerships in Mie and Oita

The subsidy wins follow a series of regional agreements established earlier in the year. On August 3, 2026, Skyports and Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. announced their selection for a feasibility study in Mie Prefecture. This project, which also includes Ise-Shima Resort Management Co., explores an air taxi network across the Chubu and Kansai regions. The study evaluates passenger demand, flight routes, and the integration of AAM infrastructure with existing rail, road, marine transport, and airport facilities.

In southwestern Japan, Oita Prefecture formalized a partnership agreement with Skyports on September 2, 2026. Working alongside Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), the Oita project focuses on commercial feasibility studies and identifying potential vertiport locations. Oita Prefecture officials expect AAM vehicles to address vulnerabilities in regional transportation infrastructure and are targeting commercial operations by 2028.

Masashi Taruta, Japan Country Manager at Skyports Infrastructure, stated that securing the projects is a strong endorsement of the company’s expertise in the region.

“From Osaka and Hyogo to Oita, Yamanashi, Shizuoka and Mie, we’re working alongside some of Japan’s leading companies to turn AAM ambitions into credible, deliverable infrastructure plans,” Taruta said. “The breadth of these projects demonstrates the momentum building across Japan, and we’re proud to be a trusted partner helping lay the foundations for future commercial operations.”

AirPro News analysis

We view Skyports’ 100 percent application success rate as a clear indicator of the Japanese government’s commitment to accelerating AAM deployment. By distributing subsidies across six distinct prefectures rather than concentrating them in a single metropolitan hub, local authorities are fostering a decentralized approach to early AAM adoption. The involvement of established domestic entities like JR Kyushu and Mitsui Fudosan suggests that vertiport infrastructure will be heavily integrated into existing transit and real estate networks, rather than operating as standalone Airports facilities.

Sources: Skyports Infrastructure

Venus Aerospace officially opened a new propulsion test stand at the Houston Spaceport on September 10, 2026, expanding the company’s capacity to test its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) technology at higher thrust levels and for longer durations.

In a press release, the aerospace company stated the new infrastructure will more closely replicate mission conditions as it scales integrated propulsion systems for defense and space applications. The facility’s opening follows a $91 million Series B financing round closed in July 2026 to accelerate RDRE production.

Scaling RDRE technology

The RDRE architecture utilizes a continuous supersonic detonation wave rotating around a combustion chamber. According to Venus Aerospace, this design is 15 percent more efficient than conventional subsonic combustion rocket engines. The company previously completed the first United States flight test of a high-thrust rotating detonation rocket engine at Spaceport America in New Mexico on May 14, 2025.

To transition the propulsion system from flight demonstration to deployment, the company required expanded physical infrastructure capable of handling sustained engine runs.

“Building and testing propulsion systems at this pace requires the right infrastructure around the technology,” said Sassie Duggleby, CEO and co-founder of Venus Aerospace.

Public and private investment

The expansion at the Houston Spaceport is supported by both private capital and state-level investment. In July 2026, Venus Aerospace secured $91 million in Series B funding led by Mercury Fund, with participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures and other investors. The capital is specifically earmarked for maturing the flight-proven RDRE into full propulsion systems.

The company also highlighted the role of local and state authorities, including the Texas Space Commission and the Houston Airport System, in facilitating the new test stand.

“We’re grateful to the Texas Space Commission and the State of Texas for investing alongside companies like Venus. Public investment like this helps companies move faster and keeps critical aerospace capability growing here in Texas,” Duggleby stated.

AirPro News analysis

We view the opening of the Houston Spaceport test stand as a critical bottleneck cleared for Venus Aerospace. While the May 2025 flight test proved the fundamental viability of the high-thrust RDRE concept, scaling the technology for defense and commercial space applications requires rigorous, long-duration ground testing. By securing both the $91 million in private equity and the physical footprint to run continuous high-thrust tests, the company is positioning itself to transition from a research and development firm into a primary propulsion supplier. The 15 percent efficiency gain over conventional rocket engines makes the RDRE highly attractive for next-generation defense platforms and launch vehicles, provided the manufacturing and integration challenges can be met.

Sources: Venus Aerospace (September 10, 2026 Press Release)

NOEMI Aerospace has selected advanced materials manufacturer Syensqo to supply carbon fiber composites and structural adhesives for its nine-passenger all-electric amphibious aircraft.

The agreement, announced in a September 10, 2026, press release, secures out-of-autoclave materials critical for fabricating the aircraft’s 21-meter single-span wing structure. The selected materials feature existing National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) data, which NOEMI intends to leverage for its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification program.

Composite materials for single-span wing construction

Syensqo will provide its MTM® 45-1 carbon fiber prepreg and AeroPaste® structural paste adhesive for the airframe and wing assembly. NOEMI Aerospace requires out-of-autoclave curing capabilities to accommodate the physical dimensions of the aircraft’s wing skins and spars, which the company plans to manufacture as a continuous 21-meter structure.

Simon Bendrey, Chief Engineer at NOEMI Aerospace, stated that the company needed a primary structure-capable material with proven performance to support this manufacturing approach.

“With Syensqo’s MTM® 45-1, a primary structure capable material with FAA approval and independently verified NCAMP data, we have a solution that will support our certification approach while helping us achieve the low structural weight required for our first prototype aircraft,” Bendrey said.

Bendrey added that the company will utilize the AeroPaste® structural adhesive to bond the wing components. Gerald Perrin, EMEA Sales Director for Syensqo Composite Materials, noted that the selection reflects the aerospace heritage of the company’s product line and its alignment with Electric-Aviation development.

TAC-1 prototype and multi-mission development

The materials partnership advances the construction of NOEMI’s TAC-1 experimental prototype. Following a preliminary design review completed in March 2026, the Norwegian Manufacturers is currently building a ground test rig. According to reporting by Aviation International News, the company expects to run a propeller on the test rig by the end of the third quarter of 2026.

The all-electric seaplane is designed for a range of approximately 200 kilometers, targeting short-haul routes between coastal islands and waterway-connected communities. While initially focused on passenger transport, NOEMI Aerospace, which rebranded from Elfly Group in February 2026, announced a multi-mission Strategy on May 19, 2026. The company plans to adapt the airframe for specialized operations, including aerial firefighting, medical evacuation, troop transport, and skydiving.

AirPro News analysis

We view NOEMI’s selection of an out-of-autoclave composite system with existing NCAMP data as a pragmatic risk-reduction strategy. Electric aircraft developers face strict weight limitations due to current battery energy densities, making lightweight composite structures mandatory rather than optional. By choosing a material that already possesses verified performance data and FAA familiarity, NOEMI can avoid the time and expense of a clean-sheet material qualification program. The ability to cure a 21-meter wing structure outside of a traditional autoclave removes a significant Manufacturing bottleneck and reduces capital equipment costs for early-stage prototype production.

Sources: NOEMI Aerospace