FLYING TAXIS THE FUTURE OF URBAN TRANSPORT?
FLYING TAXI MAKERS HEAD FOR FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW
How soon will we be traveling in air taxis? How can they be safely integrated into existing airspace? What are the challenges around infrastructure? These were some of the issues debated at the Farnborough Airshow which took place on Monday 18 - Friday 22 July, while some manufacturers showed off their new aircraft. AeroTime takes a look at what we can expect from the air- show in this area and the recent European proposals on operating air taxis in cities. There are many companies working on advanced air mobili- ty (AAM), popularly dubbed flying taxis. More formally, AAM refers to an air transport system with new aircraft designs that aims to move people and cargo between places, particularly in cities. Much of the focus is on electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which promises not only a new form of trans- port but a more sustainable way of flying. Companies involved in developing eVTOLs include Joby Aviation, Archer, Velocopter, Lilium, Vertical Aerospace, Eve, Wisk and Supernal. Among the recent big developments in the industry was the publication on June 30, 2022 by the European Union Avia- tion Safety Agency (EASA) of the world’s first rules for the operation of air taxis in cities. The proposed regulatory framework, which is open for consultation until September 30, 2022, covers airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing and rules of the air. EASA said manufacturers had indicated they would be ready for certification of VTOL aircraft in the next few years. One of the interesting points in the EASA proposals is around pilot licensing. EASA said it is proposing that holders of commercial pilot licences for aeroplanes or helicopters (CPL) will be issued with a VTOL aircraft type rating, once
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they have completed training on the relevant aircraft. It means that only pilots who already hold licences for conventional aircraft will be allowed to operate VTOL- capable aircraft, with no option for someone to train would- be pilots with no flying experience at all from scratch only for VTOL operations. EASA said its current proposals only cover piloted VTOL systems, and that autonomous flying concepts would be covered by separate proposals when relevant. When it comes to integrating such aircraft into airspace above urban areas, EASA said transporting people and/or cargo by VTOL-capable aircraft requires a “level of safety that is at least as high as that applicable to operations with conventional aeroplanes or helicopters.” EASA expects that the first type of operations for VTOLs would be following predefined routes or corridors, to maintain sufficient height above congested areas or cities, help avoid other traffic and avoid flying over sensitive areas. If safety, environmental, security, and privacy concerns can be successfully demonstrated and validated during the development of these aircraft, then EASA said it would consider removing the predefined corridors AeroTime Chairman and Editor in Chief, Richard Stephenson said: “AAM has huge potential to change the way we travel in cities. There are clearly numerous challenges to overcome, with public acceptance being a key issue going forward. “I’m confident that all of the challenges will be managed, and I hope to see an electric flying taxi saving me from the London Underground on a hot summer day within the next decade!” Wisk, which is backed by Boeing, brought one of its all- electric, self-flying air taxis to its chalet at the airshow. Wisk said that the display was part of its efforts to engage with the community around acceptance of the technology. Vertical Aerospace will display a full-scale model of its VX4, a four passenger, one pilot aircraft that is projected to have speeds up to 200mph and a range of over 100 miles. Supernal, which was set up in November 2021, promises to “unveil a look into the future eVTOL passenger experience”. It also expects to announce new partnerships and details on how it plans to utilise Hyundai’s automotive expertise in developing its eVTOL. Brazilian planemaker Embraer displayed a cabin mock-up of the Eve eVTOL for the first time. Lilium also exhibited at the show, bringing scale models of the jet’s interior and exterior. The company achieved a major milestone in May, when its Phoenix 2 technology demonstra- tor achieved main wing transition, making it the first ever full-size electric jet aircraft to transition from hover to wing-borne flight.
AUGUST 2022
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