Start-ups are racing to build the world’s first flying taxis

Most prototypes currently take off and land vertically, similar to delivery drones currently in circulation, travelling up to distances of up to 200km. They run using environmentally friendly methods like batteries and electric propulsion. If you’re not afraid of heights, what’s not to love?

Though the models mentioned here have been put to the test on several occasions already, getting a radical new mode of transport such as this off the ground isn’t as simple as creating 50 ridesharing cabs and unleashing them onto city skies. I mean, autonomous road vehicles have still yet to become a mainstay of transport even now, let alone helicopters.

The European Aviation Society is current thrashing out regulations for VTOLs to ensure what it describes as complete ‘air trustworthiness,’ obviously concerning the reliability of the build, as well as details like emergency exits, lightning protection, landing gear systems, and pressurised cabins.

Classifying models of VTOL is proving particularly tricky too. In plenty of cases the EVS seems undecided on exactly what separates a flying car from a fixed-wing commercial jet or helicopter, and the discrepancies are still being figured out in cahoots with public sectors including government, transportation, urban planning, and public outreach.

Beyond this, a sustainable flying service would need dedicated places to take off, land, receive maintenance, charge their batteries, and depot in off periods. Considering the extent to which helicopter journeys are limited in most regions, what with dedicated flight paths, and brief windows for peak travel times, you can only imagine the level of infrastructure required to start dotting rideshare VTOLs all across major cities.

Mckinsey experts have revealed that a single ‘Vertipad’ (landing and take-off space) in a suburban area with just two parking spaces would cost around $400 USD to build and $900 USD per year to operate. If it were even possible right now, I dread to think what a ride share across town would cost.

Make no mistake though, despite all the uncertainty and piles of legislation, there is an industrywide determination to make VTOL travel accessible.

If you need proof, Orlando has just revealed its plan to build a 56,000-square-foot ‘Vertiport’ to allow passengers to bypass Florida’s notoriously congested highways. Check the video renderings here, the place looks as though it’s pulled straight from a videogame.

So there we have it, at some point in the next 5 to 10 years you may be able to press a button and order an air taxi straight to your office rooftop. Just watch your step if you’ve had a drink or two.