Commissioned in 2030, these “flying taxis” actually look like helicopters.
At the origin of this strange project, there are three partners: RATP, ADP (Aéroports de Paris) and Choose Paris Region, responsible for promoting Île-de-France.
In September 2020, they announced they wanted "Develop an urban air mobility sector around the vertical take-off vehicle."
To do this, they work with a german manufacturer, Volocopter, eager to test its electric VTOLs (vertical take-off and landing). The experiments will take place at Pontoise airport (Val d'Oise).
Otherwise, 31 actors were selected for this project : manufacturers, maintenance companies, infrastructure experts and even scientists.
The objective is to bring together all the players in the sector in order to create a real chain around the operation of these taxis of a new kind.
« We are the only ones to bring together all the players in the sector in one place. »Edward Arkwright, Deputy CEO of ADP, at Le Figaro
If this flying taxi project materializes, it will allow considerable time savings in urban areas often bottled.
However, if demonstration flights could take place in 2024 (during the Olympics), the first commercial flights will not take place before 2030.
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