John F. Kennedy once said that a “new frontier” existed in America, and that we should “not hesitate to explore it.” At the time, he was talking about sending humans to the moon — but history has proven him right, because while it seemed far-fetched at the time he made that speech, now something similar is available here on Earth (if you’re in North America). Air taxi services are bringing a new level of convenience and efficiency to air travel. And they may be poised to become the future of transportation — provided they can overcome some serious challenges.
Why Air Taxi is the Future of Transportation
Air taxi services are about to become a reality. They will offer passengers an opportunity to avoid the traffic jams that create hours of delay when trying to get from one place to another. The future of transportation will be faster and more convenient than ever before.
The Future is Now with Air Taxi Services
During this time when air travel is mostly grounded, it may seem like a strange time to talk about the future of flying. However, now is the perfect time to discuss the future of aviation. Many countries around the world have invested in AI technologies for self-driving cars and drones. Now, those same countries are looking at developing AI for autonomous flying taxis.
There are several reasons why air taxi services are likely to become popular in the near future:
They’re fast and convenient – For people who need to get from one place to another quickly and reliably, air taxis are ideal. You won’t have to worry about traffic jams or delays caused by construction zones or other road hazards. You can also take a quick trip across town instead of making a long drive on the highway.
They’re affordable – Since there’s no need for a pilot, an air taxi can cost less than you might expect. It’s also possible that they’ll be cheaper than traditional taxis.
How does an Air Taxi Work?
The air taxi concept differs from that of a traditional helicopter, in that it will be capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) using electric motors. This means it can land anywhere, not just at a helipad. The four rotors are mounted on the wings and are attached to the fuselage by struts. The advantage of this arrangement is that we can get rid of the tail rotor altogether, which has no function in forward flight and can be dangerous if someone gets too close to the back of the aircraft.
Speeds of up to 200 knots are planned for, so you can get to your destination quickly, and as quietly as possible, as electric motors are much quieter than their combustion counterparts.
Dangers
The most obvious danger with flying taxis is just that: flying! Although we have been able to do this for many years now, accidents still happen. However, we have been able to reduce the number of accidents with rigorous training, checks and maintenance procedures. The same will apply with air taxis; they’ll have numerous fail safes built in to ensure passenger safety.
What is the cost for Air Taxi services?
The idea is simple: Instead of flying commercial airlines, which can be inconvenient, expensive and time consuming, you can hail a private aircraft in much the same way as you would hail a taxi.
The popularity of such businesses has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, a recent survey by helicopter company HeliFlite found that around 25 percent of its clients had used some form of air taxi service within the last year.
Air taxi services vary from company to company, but most operate with a fleet of aircraft that can seat anywhere from two to 10 passengers. Flight prices range from $1,200 for a 30-minute flight on a four-seat helicopter to $19,000 for a three-hour flight on a 10-seat turboprop plane.
Air taxi services have several advantages over traditional commercial airlines. First and foremost is convenience — instead of spending hours in traffic getting to and from the airport, waiting in line at security checkpoints and boarding gates only to be crammed into your seat like sardines in a can
Is the Air Taxi service safe?
We’ve all been there — stuck in a traffic jam, wasting time and gas on our way to an appointment, or even missing the start of a flight.
It’s crazy to think that we live in a world where we can order groceries online and they will arrive at our door within 24 hours, but we are still stuck driving ourselves to work, school and the airport.
There are many advantages to using an air taxi service. First of all, it will cut down your travel time significantly. If you have ever had to drive through rush hour traffic, you know how annoying it can be to sit idle while everyone else inches along the road at 5 miles per hour. It’s infuriating!
The second advantage is less wear and tear on your car. If you are only driving yourself around town once a week or less, your car won’t need routine maintenance nearly as often as it would if you drove every day. This means that you won’t need an oil change or tire rotation as often and you will get better gas mileage because there is less friction on your tires from being used so much.
What are some of the biggest challenges with Air Taxi services?
With all the hype surrounding air taxis, you might be wondering what it would take for these futuristic vehicles to become a reality.
The biggest challenge is getting them certified for commercial use. The Federal Aviation Administration is already working on this with NASA, setting up a certification process that will allow new aircraft like air taxis to enter our airspace.
Air taxi services are one of the most innovative and expedient transportation methods available at this time.
