Electric air taxis could one day whisk commuters from downtown Chicago to O’Hare International Airport or to the suburbs, high above expressway traffic, in a fraction of the time it takes to drive.
Category Archives: Unmanned Air Taxi
EASA Publishes Rules for Operation of Air Taxis in Cities
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published rules for the operation of air taxis in cities, the first comprehensive proposal for such regulations to be issued world-wide. Continue reading
World-First Hub for Flying Taxis, Air-One, Opens in Coventry UK
Urban-Air Port, the UK-based developer of ground infrastructure for air taxis and autonomous delivery drones, on April 25th opened “Air-One”, a world-first demonstration of a fully-operational hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles – such as air taxis – and autonomous cargo drones, heralding a new age of zero-emission, low-congestion urban transport.
EASA Publishes Design Specifications for Vertiports
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency published the world’s first guidance for the design of vertiports, the ground infrastructure needed for the safe operation of Urban Air Mobility services such as air taxis in locations across Europe, including in urban areas. Continue reading
Skyports Raises $23M Series B Funding
Skyports, the electric air taxi infrastructure and drone services provider, has raised USD 23 million in the first close of its Series B funding round. The capital, from a combination of new and existing investors, will enable Skyports to consolidate its position as a global leader in the advanced air mobility infrastructure and drone operations markets. Continue reading
Hamburg’s U-Space Sandbox Becomes Blueprint for Drone Traffic
Droniq GmbH and its parent company DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH recently published their recommendations for action for the establishment of U-Space areas. The findings collected are based on a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV). With their help, U-Space areas are to be further advanced in Germany and introduced from 2023. Continue reading
Flying-Taxi Startup Joby Slumps After Test-Flight Accident
Joby Aviation Inc., a startup vying to be among the first to fly a new class of electric air taxis, said one of its aircraft was involved in an accident, sending the shares tumbling. Continue reading
China’s AutoFlight Seeks EASA Certification for eVTOL Airtaxi
AutoFlight, the Chinese eVTOL company, continues its global expansion and establishes its first location in Europe: A team led by former Airbus manager Mark R. Henning is now ramping up at Augsburg Airport in Germany. The team’s first task is to achieve European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for AutoFlight’s airtaxi ‘Prosperity I’, an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a range of approximately 250 kilometers. Continue reading