Flying taxis will be tested over Paris during the 2024 Olympics, French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete announced, but not with the general public.
“We are going to experiment with this world-first during the Olympic Games. It’s a technological advance that could be of use,” Vergriete said, according to Le Parisien newspaper.
The VoloCity air taxi from Volocopter has been through more than 2,000 tests, but this will be the first time it will be used in public.
According to the company, “the VoloCity air taxi will bypass urban streets to fly whisper-quiet and emission-free in lower airspace. It is poised to transport passengers between key transportation hubs like train stations and airports. This will enable seamless, faster, and more convenient options than those afforded by existing transit options.”
The machine has 18 rotors and two seats and is powered by electricity. Vergriete said it will be tested, though not with the general public, during the Paris Olympics. Its use in the future would be mainly as an ambulance and other emergency services.
The primary aim of testing during the games is to evaluate operational costs and noise levels. To transport passengers commercially, VoloCity must obtain certification from the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Volocopter is aiming to receive certification by fall.
Earlier this year, the company faced financial challenges, nearly going bankrupt after investing about $650 million in development.
Despite the company’s claim that VoloCity is emission-free, it faces opposition. The French Environmental Authority measured the noise level of an air taxi in flight at 65 decibels and concluded it was not as silent as promised.
Four landing zones had to be constructed around Paris, along with a floating platform on the Seine. Volocopter is also required to demonstrate its environmental credentials and the utility of its battery-powered low-carbon transport solution to French authorities.
An environmental organization, French Nature Environment, launched a petition to ban the vehicles and has more than 15,500 signatures. The petition also calls for a demonstration in the capital on June 21.
According to Politico, the concept of air taxis in Paris during the Olympics originated with French President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to showcase innovation in France.
Dirk Hoke, CEO of Volocopter, believes air taxis will be competitive with traditional ground-based transport by the end of the decade.
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