FLYING HIGH
Ride apps like Uber have transformed the way
we get around town, and flying taxis, powered
by drones, could be the next innovation to
connect our cities and make the world an even
smaller place. The average driver wastes
$1,348 per year sitting in traffic jams, but by
opening up the air for travel, sitting in a pesky
queue on your way to work could be a thing of
the past. Introducing urban aerial mobility - a
new dimension of transportation.
Granted, urban flying is not new. VIPs have
been relying on helicopters to hop from city
to city for many decades, but in recent times,
developments in the private sector have
unlocked new potentials for human drone
flights. A new focus on electric vertical take-off
and landing (EVTOL) and autonomous flights
are creating a safer, cleaner mode of transport
that works for everyone, not just the elite
with thousands of dollars to spend on their
morning commute.
Uber is already “transforming the world
through aerial ridesharing at scale,” promising
to roll out its Elevate program to the public
before 2023, and Volocopter, a German-based
UAM company, unveiled the world’s first air taxi
vertiport in Singapore for autonomous flights,
an impressive testing hub for the future of
urban travel.
Of course, there are many hurdles to overcome
before drone travel can become the norm.
As well as air traffic control, regulators, noise
pollution, insurance, and safety, there’s the small
matter of cost. Startups are pumping billions into
these flying machines, and the next challenge
Image: Volocopter