EVTOLS and Future Air Taxies

[Outlaw_Pilot]

Hello,

Does this sub-forum cover upcoming EVTOLS like proposed Air Taxies? If not, would the Pprune site owner please make a sub-forum covering this topic?

Thank you.

[PhlyingGuy]

I think this place is fine. Highly doubt you'd get much engagement on a different sub-forum and EVTOLs will primarily be working with / competing against rotorcraft.

[wrench1]

Originally Posted by Outlaw_Pilot

Does this sub-forum cover upcoming EVTOLS like proposed Air Taxies?

EVTOL news and progress

Lilium vertical take off "jet"

Engineering Challenges Facing New VTOL Aircraft

[Robbiee]

An airtaxi should be some guy with a New York accent showing up on the roof of your office building in an R44 saying, "Where to Mac",..not some pilotless human sized drone.

- just sayin'

[Outlaw_Pilot]

Just curious as to what you guys think. Supposedly, the man is trying to make air taxies automated with no pilot. I think this is a horrible idea. What are your two cents?

[Ascend Charlie]

Never happen. The NIMBYs will prevent it. And CA$A won't be able to devise suitable rules for them to operate.

Individual councils can ban helicopter landings in their jurisdiction, they can do the same for the taxis.

[wrench1]

Originally Posted by Outlaw_Pilot

Supposedly, the man is trying to make air taxies automated with no pilot.

All current eVTOLs going through FAA/EASA certification will require a pilot. China is experimenting with remote pilot/pilotless pax ops but its not something that will be seen in western markets for various reasons.

Originally Posted by Robbiee

An airtaxi should be some guy with a New York accent showing up on the roof of your office building in an R44 saying, "Where to Mac",..not some pilotless human sized drone.- just sayin'

The interesting part in all the eVTOL studies done on the passenger/consumer side, there is a much greater percentage of people who will ride in an eVTOL before they would ride in a helicopter. But since all eVTOLs will have pilots, you may just get your "where to Mac" if you decide to try one as the 1st ops will be in NYC and LA.

[helihub]

Originally Posted by wrench1

All current eVTOLs going through FAA/EASA certification will require a pilot.

Not true. Wisk is has been collaborating with FAA for at least two years and they plan entirely pilot-less operations.

[helihub]

Originally Posted by wrench1

the 1st ops will be in NYC and LA.

The first US ops may be there, but eVTOL are already operating in China (Ehang). Other countries including UAE and Saudi Arabia are well ahead of US in this game.

[wrench1]

Originally Posted by helihub

The first US ops may be there, but eVTOL are already operating in China (Ehang). Other countries including UAE and Saudi Arabia are well ahead of US in this game.

But there still are no commercial flights even for EHang as they have not finished the CAAC AOC certification as of yet. But they will probably have the 1st commercial eVTOL ops if everything goes well and in several countries.

The Chinese are about 18 months ahead on the certification side as the FAA and EASA went in opposite directions which thankfully the FAA realized their error and now are in sync with the EASA on the Powered-Lift category. Add in the FAA/EASA route follows the ICAO guidance more than the CAAC. Regardless, I think the EHang ops will be more an ad-hoc service than a full blown scheduled service provider for the foreseeable future.

[PPRuNeUser469990]

two years old, but I wonder what FAA/CAA/EASA rules these things need to abide by?

Do you need a PPL?

Have you got to stay under 500 feet?

etc

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