Urban air transport isn’t new — helicopters have been doing it for decades. What’s changing is that better batteries and innovative designs are making it cheaper, cleaner and quieter. Companies are just trying to demonstrate the technology’s capabilities for now, but a report from Citigroup said sales of air taxis could reach US$5 billion ($6.9 billion) by the end of the next decade.
(Oct 7): A British company says it’s building the world’s first “vertiport” for electric aircraft in Singapore, an early step towards a global network for flying taxis.
Essex-based Skyports plans to show off the vertical take-off and landing station at Marina Bay during the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress from Oct 21-25. Germany’s Volocopter GmbH will bring along its electric aircraft for a demonstration flight.
