A Chinese designer of flying taxis, AutoFlight, assures that its first model, Prosperity I, could embark its first customers as early as 2025. Its argument: the vehicle is not autonomous, it would be easier to The firm must still obtain certification from of the European Aviation Safety Agency. What no manufacturer has yet succeeded.
At the start of 2021, the boss of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) declared that commercial operation of flying taxis could start in Europe as early as 2024 or 2025. Provided that the vehicles pass a certification that will authorize them to circulate in European airspace. A statement that did not fall on deaf ears: many companies have therefore started working on what could become the future Uber.
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We relayed in our columns several information about promising candidates. First the initiative of Caps who created a 100% electric flying capsule capable of transporting a person over a distance of 15 kilometers. Then that of Archer Aviation which succeeded in its first stationary flight last December. This vehicle has a range of 100 kilometers and carry up to four passengers. We also know that Uber and Hyundai are working on similar projects.
AutoFlight presents its flying taxi with pilot, commercial launch in 2025
This week, another candidate was talked about: Auto Flight. It is a Chinese company, based in Shanghai. It has already developed several autonomous flying vehicles in China. But, for Europe, it prepares the ” Prosperity I “, a flying vehicle which will take off, according to its designer, from 2025. It will be able to accommodate up to four people, three passengers and a pilot, over a maximum distance of 250 kilometers. Because yes, Prosperity I will not be autonomous.
AutoFlight has appointed head of its European division a former senior executive of the helicopter division of Airbus. And it’s no coincidence: Prosperity is more like a helicopter than an airplane. The objective of the new European boss of AutoFlight is twofold: to finalize the vehicle, before its production, and to work in concert with the EASA to obtain certification, sesame for a commercial authorization. What no flying taxi has managed to do so far. However, the choice to include a pilot in the craft could give it a boost.