Flying taxis wey dey like something from film, e no be joke again. US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration don announce Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. Dem say dem wan speed up new aircraft technology for country, and Florida na one of the lead states for these pilot programs.
According to DOT, Florida dey inside “statewide effort featuring multiple industry partners will include three phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response, supported by significant public and private investment.” St. Petersburg don even form im own task force to study these “taxis.” Albert Whitted Airport Manager Richard J. Lesniak dey lead the task force.
For “Florida Matters Live & Local,” Lesniak yarn wetin these flying taxis fit mean for public transportation and more. Wetin be eVTOL? E stand for electric vertical takeoff and landing. E be new design for aircraft wey no carry new technologies, but e dey pull from technologies wey dey already. E take small from drone world, small from battery-powered electric motors, and small from general aviation design, then merge am to create new aircraft design wey dey fly sometimes like helicopter, sometimes like fixed-wing aircraft.
The new or initial versions go get pilot, and dem go operate for airspace no different from any other regular aircraft. But the longer-term version na say these things go become autonomous. Why St. Pete? Why dis one of the airports dem dey test these platforms? Dis matter reach city council radar. Mayor and city council decide to form task force. Task force spend about nine months to evaluate advanced air mobility and see how dem go integrate am, wetin city suppose prepare for.
State of Florida through FDOT don dey look at dis matter seriously for last three years. So, city put this task force together and at end of their process, dem provide list of recommendations on how city suppose prepare for dis and utilization of Albert Whitted Airport, wey dey right in downtown St Pete, as first step for the matter.
Advanced Air Mobility get slightly different applications for the technology, but air taxi realm na wetin dey capture most people thoughts. And so where dis concept or use make sense pass na for your bigger metropolitan areas. The technology right now, because e dey battery-powered, dey somewhat limited range-wise. So I think the thought be say, initially, dis go be like intra-city type thing. For example, you fit get route from Albert Whitted Airport to Tampa International Airport.
Dem get rules about flying over water with these things? Right now, dem for meet same rules as any general aviation aircraft wey dey fly for airspace. Dem go operate just like regular aircraft go do. The only differences na just battery electric power, versus gas or jet fuel power. How soon we go see these things dey buzz around city? Dat na the million-dollar question.
FAA pilot program; state of Florida dem select. Florida DOT go lead that effort. And dem establish test facility from wetin dem call SunTrax facility. E dey located for Auburndale. Dem actually construct verte port, and dem get plans to add second verte port and runway. And I think wetin dem dey look na to start testing promotion for that site, then expand out.
Governor DeSantis don announce plan to put like highways for sky wey go link different metropolitan areas. But get another thing for dis matter. None of these operators don get their certification by FAA to fly yet. So I think dat go be big part of dis as well. New York City, Los Angeles. Dis one fit change transportation for Tampa Bay area? Absolutely.
The key to am though na to dey look at am for air taxi realm. Remember say these aircraft go dey used for multiple applications: law enforcement, search and rescue, cargo delivery, whole bunch of things. But for air taxi realm, the key na to get actual network, like I talk before, e good to get Albert Whitted Airport to Tampa International Airport, but dat one limited. You wan make sure you get sites strategically placed around wey go make am broad enough and wide enough so people fit see accessibility of am.
And get question of cost. How much e go cost to ride one of these things? Uber Black, but I no know if dat go be the case. We no know yet, because dem never start operating, but I suspect, like most new technologies, as e dey integrated and get more mass acceptance, cost go come down as e become more accepted.
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