The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed a plan that includes a series of steps that lead to commercial operation of flying taxis in the US by 2028. Initially, limited flights will be possible from 2025. It is planned to launch the service by 2028, with the possibility of covering more than one city in at least one city.

Test flights before

In 2025, the first aircraft authorized to carry passengers in short-haul US airspace will be certified. The pilots who will fly these planes will need to have the necessary skills and qualifications. While the possibility of automated management is under consideration, it is expected to continue to be implemented in the future.

The FAA is also exploring the possibility of allocating separate corridors specifically for flights with electric cabins so that they do not interfere with traditional civil aviation and overload air traffic controllers.

Companies prepare for flights

The startups Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation hope to certify their electric aircraft in the US by 2025, positioning themselves as part of the “first wave” of participants in these experiments. US officials have stressed that there will be no compromise on security in their efforts to launch these services by 2028.

Existing players in the traditional aviation industry are also following this emerging industry closely.

• Boeing recently acquired Wisk, a company that develops autonomous aircraft for the cockpit.
• Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has formed a subsidiary called Eve Air Mobility, which will focus on the development of electric aircraft.

According to Joby representatives, the widespread distribution of flying taxis will largely depend on their affordability. The price of these services will be crucial in determining society’s acceptance of this new mode of transport.

What are regulators afraid of?

In its current form, electric aircraft have limited range due to limited battery capacity. Therefore, the first commercial passenger transport with this type of aircraft is expected to connect mostly large airports and city centers. It is noteworthy that in New York, helicopters are already operating on such routes using hydrocarbon fuel.

An interesting trend is that many electric helicopter developers are deepening their partnerships with electric car manufacturers. For example, Stellantis is working with Archer Aviation to build a factory in Georgia, and Joby is working closely with Toyota Motor. The same picture is seen in China, where local electric car maker XPeng is testing flying vehicles.