FLYING TAXIS ‘FLYING TAXIS’ TO BE TESTED DURING France’s
PARIS OLYMPICS SAYS TRANSPORT MINISTER transport minister has
said that so-called “flying taxis” would be authorised for use on an experimental basis during the Paris Olympics. “We are going to experiment with this world-first during the Olympic Games. It’s a technological ad- vance that could be of use,” Patrice Vergriete told Le Parisien. But he also dashed hopes of sports fans hoping to buzz over the City of Light to reach their destinations in July and August, saying that the terms of the authorisation would be limited and not include use by the general public.
He explained the possible roles for the 18-rotor vehicles which resemble small helicopters saying: “They could be useful as a future ambul- ance, so let’s be pragmatic. Let’s look at the impact and do a cost- benefit analysis. “There’ll be some test flights
SAUDI ARABIA CONDUCTS FIRST SELF-DRIVING AIR TAXI TRIAL FOR HAJJ
On 12 June, Saudi Arabia, con- ducted its first trial for a pilotless air taxi in Mecca, with the aim of serving Hajj pilgrims. The EH216-S eVTOL electric aerial vehicle took off in an autonomous trial attended by the Kingdom’s Minister of Transport, Saleh al- Jasser, and General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz al-Duailej. “The trial was done in order to make sure the air taxi could provide services during the Hajj season,” al-Jasser said speaking from inside the aerial vehicle. “Pilotless and controlled from the ground, this aircraft fits in two people, and can fly without fuel for a distance of up to 40 kilometers, powered only by electricity, in full compliance
with all safety
parameters,” he added. 52
Al-Jasser said full trials and experiments will be carried out in order to develop this service, so that it can fly over a longer distance with an increased speed. The air taxi service aims to transport pilgrims between the holy sites, facilitate emergency travel, airlift medical equipment, and provide logistical services for the transportation of goods, according to a statement from the Transport General Authority, released by Saudi Press Agency. It is the “world’s first air taxi to be licensed by a civil aviation authority,” the statement added. “We are following up on all the technologies available in order to be among the first countries that can benefit from these services, particularly in serving Hajj pilgrims,” al-Jasser told Al Arabiya.
during the Games. If we see that they’re not effective and that they make too much noise, then we’ll draw conclusions.” Manufacturers have run into regulatory and safety barriers around the world that have prevented the roll-out of flying taxis. Germany manufacturer Volocopter has been conducting test flights in the Paris region for several years of its two-seater VoloCity and has lobbied hard for authorisation from European auth- orities in time for the Olympics. The company has partnered with airport operator ADP, the capital’s metro and bus operator RATP, and the Paris regional government. Four landing and take-off zones have been built around the capital, including at the Charles de Gaulle airport and the smaller Le Bourget airfield, in addition to a new floating platform on the river Seine in western Paris. In addition to regulatory hurdles, it is yet to convince French auth- orities of its environmental cre- dentials or utility as a battery- powered transport solution. Local councillors in Paris have voted unanimously against the concept. “It’s greenwashing in its purest form, a mode of transport created for the ultra-rich in a hurry because there’s only one space for a passenger,” deputy mayor of Paris, Dan Lert, from the French Greens party told AFP.
A petition demanding a ban has garnered around 15,000 signatures and a collective named “Flying Taxis, No Thanks” has called for a demonstration on June 21.
JULY 2024 PHTM
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