In November, Pontoise-Cormeilles in France opened the first “vertiport,” a new type of air terminal specifically designed for electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) aircraft, also known as flying taxis. The terminal uses facial recognition and weight sensors to quickly process passengers, making it a prototype for future facilities.
The use of flying taxis has the potential to greatly impact urban transportation. They are expected to be significantly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than helicopters and can be adapted for autonomous flight. This means that the pilot’s seat can be used for an extra passenger, increasing the vehicles’ efficiency.
Currently, regulators are only granting airworthiness certificates to flying taxis with pilots on board. This is to allow for the testing and gaining of experience with the vehicles before they are permitted to fly autonomously. However, most operators are starting with piloted versions in order to get their flying taxis in the air quickly.
In the field of flying taxi development, Volocopter is a frontrunner. Its VoloCity aircraft is designed to accommodate only one passenger, but it faces competition from Joby’s five-seater model and AutoFlight’s four-seater, a Chinese company. Even Airbus, Europe’s largest aircraft maker, has entered the market with a four-seat flying taxi that will initially be piloted.
The Paris Olympics in 2024 will provide a potential launchpad for flying taxis. The company managing Paris’ airports, including Pontoise-Cormeilles, plans to have at least two routes operating in the region by then, with a total of ten air taxis flying two or three trips per hour depending on distance. These routes will connect the Olympic Village with conventional airports and the Paris heliport at Issy-les-Moulineaux.
The benefits of flying taxis are clear. They are quieter, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than helicopters, and have the potential to revolutionize urban transportation. With the Paris Olympics approaching, we may soon see the widespread use of these exciting new vehicles.
On the other hand, the production of EVTOL aircraft might be very expensive. Furthermore, not having a pilot among people inside the aircraft might be dangerous in case of emergencies and people won’t feel as safe as with a professional on the board.
I personally believe that the idea is very interesting, especially if society wants such type of transport to become a regular one. Paris Olympics would be a great test for flying taxis, we will see if it works well or will turn out to be a complete failure.
In conclusion, the opening of the first vertiport in Europe signals the potential for flying taxis to greatly impact urban transportation. The benefits of flying taxis, such as their low cost and environmental friendliness, make them a promising option for the future of transportation. With the Paris Olympics providing a potential launchpad for their use, we may soon see flying taxis becoming a common sight in cities around the world.
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Wow! Amazing blog!! In my opinion the idea of flying taxis is really cool and could make transportation in cities a lot faster and easier. It’s also good that they are cheaper and better for the environment than helicopters. But I also think it might be scary to fly without a pilot on board. I’m excited to see how it works at the Paris Olympics and if it becomes more popular in the future.