“Aichi Mobility Innovation Project” selected for drone logistics demonstration project on remote islands - Aiming for early social implementation of sustainable drone logistics -

“Rural/remote island model” image

On May 30, 2025, Prodrone Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President and CEO: Shunsuke Totani, hereinafter referred to as "Prodrone") and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Mitsuko Tottori, hereinafter referred to as "JAL") announced that a demonstration project they are working on together with Nagoya Railway Co., Ltd. will be called the "Aichi Mobility Innovation Project 'Aichi Model 2030 Connecting Sky and Roads.' (*1) Selected as part of the "Logistics Drone Social Implementation Model Promotion Project" (hereinafter referred to as the "Project").　

This project is a demonstration project that aims to socially implement sustainable logistics services using drones. Prodrone and JAL will utilize Nagoya Railway's regional network and extensive experience and knowledge from demonstration experiments to conduct a demonstration experiment of drone logistics on a remote island for approximately one month in fiscal 2025 to solve regional issues. We aim to establish efficient and sustainable logistics operations by utilizing technologies such as Level 4 flight (flight without an assistant beyond visual line of sight in a manned zone (above a third party)) and remote monitoring.

Prodrone will be responsible for providing and operating the drone aircraft in this project. We are currently developing a large logistics drone (maximum takeoff weight 45kg class) and aim to obtain Type 1 certification. The aircraft is scheduled to be used in the demonstration operation, and JAL Engineering Co., Ltd., which handles aircraft maintenance for the JAL Group, will be in charge of manufacturing and maintenance (*2), and will aim to improve safety by leveraging the technological capabilities it has cultivated in aircraft maintenance.

In addition, JAL is developing a ``drone business that supports island life'' (*3) through Amami Island Drone Co., Ltd., a drone operating company jointly established with the local government in Setouchi Town, Amami, Kagoshima Prefecture, and will utilize its experience and know-how in operation and safety management for this project.

Through this demonstration, we will identify issues for commercialization after 2026 and examine service designs that meet resident needs, promoting the early implementation of drone logistics in society.

(*1) What is Aichi Mobility Innovation Project? The Aichi Mobility Innovation Project ``Aichi Model 2030, where air and roads connect'' is a project promoted by Aichi Prefecture that aims to socially implement next-generation air mobility such as drones and flying cars, as well as build a new mobility society ``Aichi Model'' through simultaneous control with land mobility such as self-driving cars, and turn next-generation air mobility into a core industry.
(※2) JAL release dated December 14, 2022 (※3) JAL release dated February 6, 2025 ■Prodrone Co., Ltd. https://www.prodrone.com/jp With the vision of "becoming the most trusted drone company in the region," we aim to build a drone ecosystem in the Chubu region. We carry out one-stop in-house development and production of industrial drones, including the PD6B-Type3 multicopter, which has a maximum payload of 30kg and has begun mass production, and the PDH-GS120 helicopter, which can fly for two hours and has excellent weather resistance.

■Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. http://www.jal.com/ja Japan Airlines was founded in 1951. As a member of the oneworld® alliance, we own 232 aircraft as of March 2025 and, together with our partners, provide a network to 395 airports in 68 countries around the world. (*)
It has been certified as a "5-Star Airline" by Skytrax and "World Class" by APEX, an aviation non-profit based in North America, and is one of the most punctual airlines in the world. Japan Airlines aims to be ``the world's most loved airline'' and provides customers with the highest level of safety and service quality.
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(*)Networks including group airlines are listed.