Air taxis hopping around city are coming: China is moving, but will Hong Kong?

7 June 2019 rmedcalf FEATURES, TRANSPORT 0

Nose view of a Lilium Jet, current leader in the US$ billions air taxi market Photo: Lilium

One day you will be able to hop around Hong Kong building to building by air taxi. It is only a question of when. The Civil Aviation Authority of China recently issued draft guidelines on how it will develop regulations and standards for pilotless air taxis as soon as next year. The CAAC has authorised five companies to study standards and certification for air taxis. BUZZ asked Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department if it is acting similarly. There has been no response so far.

Leading the way in developing air taxis is Lilium of Germany. Last month Lilium test-flew for the first time its all-electric tilt jet. Thirty-six engines mounted in its flaps allow vertical take-off. At height the wings rotate and the aircraft transitions to cruise flight. A five-seater, the Lilium jet is remotely controlled. The manufacturer said it can fly 300 km in 60 mins.

Lilium Jet has 36 engines embedded in its flaps. For takeoff they thrust downward and when the aircraft is at height, rotate so it goes into the cruise

More than 170 groups around the world are racing to develop electricity-powered aircraft with no emissions. About half are working on air taxis, expected to be flying in various cities by 2025. Many manufacturers, eyeing an air taxi market estimated to be worth US$ billions, are scaling up drones to make them powerful enough to carry passengers. Lilium says drones waste a lot of energy providing the lift that keeps them in the sky; Lilium Jet cruises using the lift from its wings, enabling faster, longer travel.

Unveiling of CityAirbus Photo: Electrive.com

Uber and Airbus are among the largest firms moving fast on air taxis. Uber has contracted several manufacturers, including Bell, Boeing and Embraer, to develop aircraft for aerial ride-sharing, which it wants to expand around the world by 2023. Bell recently displayed its flying car called Nexus. It’s a big drone, piloted, with six tilting rotors. The Nexus has also been likened to a small Osprey.

Bell Helicopter’s Nexus on display Photo: engadget

Airbus’s leading contender is called CityAirbus. It’s an all-electric, four-seat multi-copter that is remotely piloted, like the Lilium Jet. CityAirbus has eight electric motors, each driving a propellor. Emission-free, the aircraft can fly at 120 km per hour for 15 mins.

These aircraft are comparable to Model T Fords. Welcome to the future.