Air Taxis as urban transport by EASA

The European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, has recently published an article related to a study about the new Urban Air Mobility (UAM) developed through unmanned aircraft, known as Aerotaxis.

The study has given clear indications of what European citizens would think is a good way forward. In order to get an idea, EASA provides us with the following figures:

83% show a positive attitude towards Urban Air Mobility in general. This number has confirmed that UAM and related air mobility have strong support from the general public.

49% are ready to try air taxis. Nearly half of the study participants would be ready to give it a try. This provides support for regulators and manufacturers to continue with the task of legislating the regulations governing this area of commercial air transport and certifying aircraft.

51% anticipate a reduction in traffic jams and 48% see a reduction in local emissions.

At the moment, the test flights that are being carried out in Europe by the manufacturers are aimed at validating the Aerotaxi concept, testing the U-Space type airspace and certifying the aircraft themselves. Therefore, all the agents involved, the administration, manufacturers and providers of air traffic services, as well as the possible organizations that host the necessary infrastructures (vertiports) are preparing to implement urban air mobility, both testing suitable aircraft and the necessary infrastructure on land.

The idea is to establish flight corridors to ensure the safety of air taxis, pilots and passengers on board, as well as other aircraft (manned and unmanned), people on the ground and their property on the ground. These flyways will be designed to keep environmental emissions, such as noise, to a minimum in densely populated areas, while ensuring efficient transportation.

Apart from the acceptance that the study has had among the people surveyed by EASA, it will be necessary to take into account the demand that this new form of transport may generate, especially taking into account the costs that they will entail for the users of the same. It seems evident that in the large and cosmopolitan cities of the planet they could have a place. Although, it would be convenient to carry out a study focused on the possible demand that it can generate in medium-sized cities and the savings that it could entail compared to conventional transport, both air and land.

You can go deeper into the article in the following link:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/topics/air-taxis-urban-transport

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