Posted August 11, 2022
By Ray Blanco
This Airliner Just Placed a Bet on Flying Taxis
You need to travel somewhere two hours away, it’s not a far drive, but it’s not a short one either. You wouldn’t take a plane there, maybe a train, but there probably isn’t one that goes exactly where you need to be.
A ridesharing option like Uber or Lyft would cost a fortune. Most people would just drive, but that’s made more difficult now with gas prices as high as they are and looking to remain there for some time.
What you need is a flying taxi!
While this sounds like sci-fi technology, it may not be as far off as you’d think.
The idea is certainly attracting some big players, like major American airliner United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UAL) who is betting on the success of the new tech with its new purchase. Recently, United Airlines put up $10 million to acquire 100 electric flying taxis, a sign that the airline is growing more confident in the nascent technology.
Last year, United and another regional airline invested in Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR). As part of the investment, the involved parties struck a preliminary agreement to buy as many as 200 of the flying taxis that were in development. The recent purchase from United is some follow-through on that deal.
And United Airlines isn’t the only airliner making bets like these. A few other airlines have also announced investments into flying-taxi startups, complete with preliminary orders.
Archer’s flying taxis, along with competitor versions, take off and land just like helicopters would. And since most people don’t have access to helicopters, airlines are hoping to utilize the new aircraft to whisk customers around cities, flying them over congested highways to hub airports all while reducing carbon footprints.
A major hiccup right now is that these new aircraft haven’t yet been approved by regulators to fly passengers yet. But that process is already in the works here in the U.S…
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been examining the new aircraft, looking into pilot requirements and determining how to integrate the vehicles into already occupied airspaces.
Sources from the FAA have stated there is a commitment to meeting schedules that could allow a few companies to attain certification for their aircraft as early as 2024.
As things look now, flying taxis could be coming to an airport near you sooner than you think.