Japan Airlines (JAL) has been selected to participate in the “Implementation Project for Realizing Next-Generation Air Mobility,” an initiative led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The project focuses on developing key technologies and evaluation methods necessary for the safe, simultaneous operation of multiple drones by a single operator—also known as “one-to-many operations.” Through its involvement, JAL aims to help define safety management standards for commercial applications and support the creation of national guidelines and regulatory frameworks.
The Project
Under the “Implementation Project for Realizing Next-Generation Air Mobility” led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan Airlines (JAL) will conduct demonstrations of “simultaneous operation of multiple drones” at operational Levels 3.5 and 4 (*3). These trials will focus on real-world scenarios such as logistics and other expected applications, and will be carried out in coordination with flight management systems. As part of the initiative, JAL will work to standardize risk assessment processes based on specific operational models and business use cases. The resulting safety management requirements will help inform the Civil Aviation Bureau’s development of future regulatory frameworks and national guidelines.
As Japan confronts challenges related to a shrinking population and aging demographics, the use of drones is gaining attention as a solution to various societal issues—including logistics support and infrastructure inspection. To enable sustainable, commercial-scale implementation, the push for greater operational efficiency is accelerating. A key component of this is empowering individual operators to manage multiple drones simultaneously, supported by the development of critical systems such as flight management technologies.
JAL is committed to fostering a society where drones can be used safely, efficiently, and effectively. By applying insights gained through this Project—alongside continued collaboration with both public and private sectors and building on its previous experience in drone initiatives (*4)—JAL will actively contribute to the evolution and scalability of drone operations in Japan.