Samarinda Airport Prepares To Be The Location For The IKN Flying Taxi Trial

The Hyundai Motors team showed a simulation video of a test flight taxi to UPBU APT Pranoto Samarinda, in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Tuesday (6/2/2024). (ANTARA/Ahmad Rifandi)

SAMARINDA - APT Pranoto Airport Samarinda, East Kalimantan, is preparing to become a test location for flying taxis or advanced air mobility which is planned for public transportation for the capital city of Nusantara (IKN).

"Today, we received a visit from the flying taxi manufacturer Hyundai Motors which conducted a trial plan survey at APT Pranoto Airport Samarinda," said Head of the Airport Implementation Unit (UPBU) APT Pranoto Samarinda, Maeka Rindra Hariyanto, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 6.

According to Maeka, the Hyundai Motor Team, which is a car manufacturer from South Korea, will determine whether Samarinda or Balikpapan will be a test ground for flying taxis later.

"This will be the first place to be tested for flying taxis for IKN," he said.

Maeka said APT Pranoto Airport Samarinda fully supports their activities as a support for the development of IKN.

"In terms of operations, this airport is not as crowded as Balikpapan. We also prepare the necessary facilities, both from routes, flight hours, slots, to shelters," he said.

Maeka said the Hyundai Motors team was still checking field conditions that met the criteria they expected.

"This is still an initial survey, there has been no definite location determination. They will also think about how to bring the plane by ship until it reaches Samarinda," he said.

The flying taxi is planned to be tested in the next three or four months. However, its certainty and readiness will certainly be decided by Hyundai Motors.

Broadly speaking, APT Pranoto Airport Samarinda is ready to accommodate this, especially, Maeka added, the flying taxi is considered environmentally friendly because it uses electric resources.

"Flying taxis are expected to be a solution for future transportation, especially in densely populated urban areas," he said.

To support IKN Nusantara in East Kalimantan as a smart city, the IKN Authority is ready to test autonomous cars and flying taxis in 2024.

According to OIKN Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation Mohammed Ali Berawi, his party has signed a memorandum of understanding with technology providers from South Korea to develop flying taxis.

"This flying taxi technology is similar to drones that can carry passengers and goods," Ali explained.

The flying taxi serves to facilitate access to remote and hilly areas that land vehicles cannot pass.