※This is a machine-translated text of the original article.

Japan Airlines (JAL Group) and Sumitomo Corporation signed a business alliance with Bell Textron Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Bell”) to promote joint research, such as market surveys and business participation in Japan and Asia.

Through this partnership, the three companies will start examining the provision of services in the Asian region, mainly in Japan, using eVTOL equipment developed by Bell.

Bell was the first company in the U.S. to enter the air mobility field, such as developing eVTOL (*) products, and manufactures helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft.

Japan Airlines aims to build next-generation air mobility operation platforms for flying cars and other vehicles by utilizing its know-how related to the movement of the sky to date.

In addition, through the provision of next-generation air mobility services, the company will resolve regional issues in areas such as disaster response and medicine, and promote initiatives to achieve SDGs.

Sumitomo Corporation says that it will contribute to the development of new technologies, industrial development, and the creation of a next-generation mobility society for the realization of innovative mobile services through global networks deployed worldwide and diverse business activities based on the relationships of confidence with customers and partners in various industrial fields.

(*) Abbreviation for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (electric vertical takeoff and landing machine). A small aircraft that rotates multiple rotary blades by an electric motor and can take off and land vertically. It is attracting attention as a means of transportation for the next generation urban transportation which fuses the technologies of drones and electric vehicles.

Original Text: https://ampmedia.jp/2020/02/13/evtol/