Pilotless flying taxis could be in operation in 2025

It sounds like science fiction but China is hoping pilotless flying taxis could be in operation by next year.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has approved the first permit for mass production of eVTOL autonomous flying taxis, leading travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

It is an industry first for manufacturer EHang, which makes the EHang EH216-S pilotless electric flying vehicle and has plans to mass-produce it commercially.

“Our vision is to introduce safe and reliable pilotless eVTOL aircraft to the global market, thereby offering safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility services,” said Huazhi Hu, CEO of EHang.

The EHang EH216-S is a fully electric two-seater craft with a cruising speed of up to 100kph. It is
built for vertical takeoffs and landings.

 
EHang says it has been extensively tested with and without pilots. Just like driverless cars then, except you will be flying through the air.

The company is marketing it for air taxi shuttle services, tourism and commuter transportation.

The CAAC last year issued a guidance report detailing measures for large-scale operations for autonomous aerial services starting by 2025

A similar plan in the US has targeted a start date of 2028 for eVTOL commercial operations.

For more details see https://www.ehang.com/

VoloConnect gives new meaning to "fly in, fly out"

The day you can catch a flying taxi to and from your destination is getting ever closer.

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) pioneer Volocopter announced this week that its fixed-winged passenger aircraft, the VoloConnect, has completed its first flight.

Volocopter says it is the only eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) developer worldwide to have a fleet of distinct aircraft configurations undergoing flight tests.

Volocopter's third product, the VoloConnect, offers further and faster journeys than any other Volocopter aircraft to date, with a range of over 100km and flight speeds above 250kmh.

The passenger plane's extended range and higher payload will bring business travellers and commuters beyond the city centre on routes like, they suggest, Burbank to Huntington Beach in Los Angeles. Or maybe Sydney CBD to the Blue Mountains. 

The VoloCity and VoloConnect are air taxi designs aimed at fulfilling demands for metropolitan flights and suburban connections in densely populated regions.

The VoloConnect is targeting a 2026 entry into service, while the VoloCity is targeting commercial launch in 2024.

"Having a whole family of electric aircraft in the test flight phase is a pioneering feat," said Florian Reuter, the Volocopter CEO. 

"Volocopter's leadership in the industry stems from announcing plans and then delivering on them visibly with public test flights.

"Our technology platform is the foundation for our family of aircraft approach and has proven to deliver results at an astounding speed. Volocopter is bringing these innovative designs off the ground, into the air, and then to cities worldwide."

Volocopter has designed the VoloConnect and its other eVTOL aircraft to meet aviation safety standards imposed by EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).

The VoloConnect has six rotors facilitate vertical take-off, while two electric fans in combination with uplift-creating wings ensure high forward speeds, the company says.

See www.volocopter.com