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Charlotte Bailey

Taiwanese drone manufacturer and advanced air mobility start-up 7A Drones has firmed up to purchase 10 SkyDrive SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. Under an agreement announced on February 12, with 7A Drones confirming plans to deploy these on proposed inter-island medical evacuation routes.
The agreement builds upon a pre-order deal first <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-05-09/skydrive-plans-aeromedical-evtol-flights-taiwans-penghu">signed in May 2025</a>, in which the partners detailed ambitions to use the aircraft for emergency air medical services connecting the main island of the Penghu archipelago with the more remote Hujing island.&nbsp; According to Japan-based SkyDrive, the proposal has since progressed “from an initial study phase through to a formal agreement,” with the proposed route constituting a “concrete first step” towards operations.
SkyDrive intends for its piloted, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-01-30/skydrive-chases-evtol-aircraft-certification-milestone">two-passenger SD-05</a> to complement conventional marine and helicopter transport, enabling the establishment of an emergency medical transportation system it believes is “more robust in the face of difficult sea conditions.” In particular, with remote island ferry services frequently cancelled during inclement winter weather, “the issue is particularly serious for Hujing island, which has only one basic public clinic,” explained SkyDrive.
With SkyDrive is targeting an entry into commercial service of 2028 for its eVTOL model, 7A Drones is set to receive its first aircraft in 2028, with a further four to follow in 2029. In the meantime, the parties will continue to engage with stakeholders to help lay the groundwork for upcoming eVTOL integration and “to thoroughly examine the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects required to realize this initiative,” concluded SkyDrive. 
The Penghu islands are located around 20 miles from mainland Taiwan and around 125 miles of the coast of China. In recent months, political tensions between China and Japan have increased after the new Japanese government signalled its willingness to defend Taiwan from any Chinese invasion.

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