JAKARTA - Europe's main aviation regulator has announced that if there is no transverse flight, flying taxis could begin public services on the continent by 2024.
More than half a dozen European companies have announced the development of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles for passenger use, or converted into unmanned cargo for medical supply delivery.
"I believe commercial use of flying taxis can begin in 2024 or 2025," Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), told Reuters on Thursday.
EASA cited figures showing the UAM market is predicted to reach 4.2 billion euros in Europe by 2030, creating 90,000 jobs. About 31 percent of the global market for new technologies will be based in Europe.
Ky said EASA has begun the process of certifying several designs and expects first approval for the lightweight engine around 2024.
German startup Volocopter and supporters of other projects such as Aeroports de Paris hope to demonstrate this technology in time for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
"How quickly those vehicles enter service will also depend on operational approvals that check whether they are flying over the city center or potential hazards such as trains," Ky said.
"EASA focuses on projects involving pilot vehicles for passengers and unmanned drones for cargo delivery. Fully autonomous vehicles are still a few years away," he added.
Ky was speaking when the Cologne-based agency released a study showing broad public support for such electric-powered vehicles, which are capable of taking off and landing vertically.
About 71 percent of people surveyed in six urban areas expressed interest in using air taxis or delivery services or both, and the largest category of those surveyed, about 41 percent said, emergency medical activities would benefit most from the presence of this service.
To be aware, safety is the main concern of drones and taxis, as well as noise, especially in the case of passenger vehicles.
The majority of people surveyed by EASA also expressed concern about its impact on birds or insects. While cybersecurity tops the list of potential concerns, especially for drones.
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