Paris, France — In a significant step towards futuristic urban mobility, flying taxis could begin whisking passengers across Paris or aid in emergency medical care by December, according to operators of the project.
The joint venture between Paris airport operator ADP and German start-up Volocopter is aiming for its maiden passenger flight “by the end of the year” from a platform floating on the river Seine, despite earlier plans to showcase the scheme during the Paris Olympics proving impossible.
Initially, ADP and Volocopter had ambitious plans to trial passenger flights over the summer, capitalizing on the global spotlight of the Olympic Games.
However, a “delay of a few weeks” in securing official certification for their Volocity flying machine from the European Aviation Safety Agency has postponed the project, according to ADP executive director Edward Arkwright.
The delay was attributed to “small vibrations” affecting the craft’s engine, manufactured by a US supplier, ADP chief executive Augustin de Romanet disclosed to Franceinfo broadcaster on Thursday.
Despite the setback, de Romanet expressed optimism, stating, “We retain the hope of flying these machines over the Seine before the reopening of Notre Dame (Cathedral).”
Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen in December, over five years after a devastating fire severely damaged the historic structure. In the interim, the joint venture is organizing flight demonstrations using a passengerless prototype to showcase the potential of their technology.
A maiden demonstration flight took place on Thursday at the Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole aerodrome west of Paris, featuring two flights on a short circuit at an altitude of approximately 30 meters (100 feet).
Another demonstration is planned for Sunday in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, from the very spot where the Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon, the first flying machine in history, ascended in 1783.
The current version of the two-seater aircraft, designed by Volocopter, is equipped with 18 battery-powered rotors arranged in a crown above the cockpit. This design significantly reduces noise levels compared to traditional helicopters.
Recently, the transport ministry and ADP — which is 50.6-percent state-owned — have emphasized the Volocity’s potential for medical evacuations or organ transport, shifting the narrative away from “flying taxis,” often perceived as a luxury mode of transport for the affluent. This change in tone follows opposition from Paris city officials across the political spectrum.
Paris city hall has criticized the project as an “ecological aberration” and has legally challenged a recent decree by the transport ministry authorizing the creation of a helipad for the flying machines.
In July, France’s highest administrative authority ruled against city hall’s challenge, pending a decision on the merits of the case expected in the autumn.
The decree stipulates that the platform’s operating permit runs until December 31 “at the latest.” As the project progresses, it remains to be seen how it will reconcile the aspirations of advanced urban mobility with environmental and regulatory concerns.
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