German delivery drone maker Wingcopter just got lift off in Japan.

The company has just announced that it has received approval for the opening of the type certification process of its Wingcopter 198 delivery drone in Japan.

A type certificate is issued by aviation authorities, declaring the airworthiness standard for the aircraft type, model, aircraft engine or aircraft propeller.

Certification confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production is in compliance with applicable airworthiness requirements established by a country’s aviation laws.

Wingcopter’s application was made with the support of the ITOCHU Corporation, Wingcopter’s partner in the country.

This is a landmark achievement for the company, as it marks the first time a foreign company’s drone and the first time a fixed-wing drone has been accepted under the unmanned aircraft class-1 type certification by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

“This milestone represents significant progress towards realising commercial drone delivery in Japan and beyond,” said Florian-Michael Adolf, Head of Certification at Wingcopter.

“At Wingcopter, we are striving for type certification, as it underscores our commitment to safety of our product, as well as the diligence and professionalism of our entire team.

“We would like to thank our partners at ITOCHU for supporting us in this process with their extensive knowledge, network, and resources.”

Upon successful type certification, Wingcopter will be granted permission to conduct flights equivalent to Level 4; which means licence to conduct flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in populated areas.

This would make Wingcopter and its partner one of the first companies that could set up proper structures for commercial BVLOS operations in Japan.

With an aging population and secluded landscapes, including many inhabited islands, the country is ripe for establishment as one of the world’s largest markets for drone deliveries in the future.

“We see great potential in Wingcopter’s delivery drone to make everybody’s life better and are delighted with the promising progress in realising this value,” said Masaharu Sato, Deputy General Manager, Aerospace Department at ITOCHU Corporation.

“It is our honour to collaborate with the dedicated professionals at Wingcopter, led by the management team around Tom (Plummer, CEO), Jonathan (Hesselbarth, Chief Technology Officer) and Ansgar (Kadura, Chief Services Officer). We look forward to continuing this exciting journey together.”

The first verification tests were done last year in May, and they comprised the delivery of medical blood product by drones; tests which were one of the first of their kind in Japan, according to a statement released by ITOCHU.

ITOCHU and Wingcopter aim to use the Wingcopter 198 to establish drone delivery networks and services that can provide an air bridge to overcome various social challenges by transporting vital and urgently needed goods quickly and environmentally friendly over many kilometres and above challenging terrain.

“ITOCHU will conduct several proof of concepts under special permits until the expected type certification,” Wingcopter said.

In addition to the type certification efforts in Japan, Wingcopter is currently undergoing the FAA type certification process in the USA, which could provide the corridor to unlocking the huge commercial potential of the North American market as well.