How an opportunity in defence could make flying taxis a reality
Opportunities in defence, emergency healthcare and cargo could help make flying taxis a reality in the next few years after the sector recently received backing from US President Donald Trump's administration, executives in the industry said at the Paris Airshow.
Trump this month told regulators to speed up certification to accelerate the development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), aiming to secure a US lead over Asia in the technology.
The executive order gave fresh impetus to an industry that has struggled to win over critics and regulators.
"We take a lot of spears, people are like 'batteries are too heavy'," Kyle Clark, founder and chief executive of Beta Technologies, said at the show.
"But the reality is, if you put the airplanes in the right places, the benefits are real."
Flying taxis - seen in predictions of the future for decades - need to shake off the idea that they are only for the rich to become viable at scale.
Their manufacturers said emergency medical services, cargo and defence could help, where they offer a cheaper and quieter alternative to helicopters in areas from passenger and goods transport to rescue missions.
BETA, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are in the US air force agility prime programme, which aims to develop technologies for autonomous cargo and hybrid-electric aircraft.
Joby and Archer have previously signed military contracts worth $131m (R2,357,768,942) and up to $142m (R2,555,943,200), respectively.
"We have two aircraft at Edwards air force base, and we are grateful for all the support an learning out of that," said Joby Aviation's founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt.
"We think there are incredible opportunities on the defence side."
Clark, who flew Beta's conventional takeoff and landing aircraft in Paris, said the company had a clear position in defence: reliable aircraft that showed up to every mission.
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How an opportunity in defence could make flying taxis a reality
Opportunities in defence, emergency healthcare and cargo could help make flying taxis a reality in the next few years after the sector recently received backing from US President Donald Trump's administration, executives in the industry said at the Paris Airshow. Trump this month told regulators to speed up certification to accelerate the development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), aiming to secure a US lead over Asia in the technology. The executive order gave fresh impetus to an industry that has struggled to win over critics and regulators. "We take a lot of spears, people are like 'batteries are too heavy'," Kyle Clark, founder and chief executive of Beta Technologies, said at the show. "But the reality is, if you put the airplanes in the right places, the benefits are real." Flying taxis - seen in predictions of the future for decades - need to shake off the idea that they are only for the rich to become viable at scale. Their manufacturers said emergency medical services, cargo and defence could help, where they offer a cheaper and quieter alternative to helicopters in areas from passenger and goods transport to rescue missions. BETA, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are in the US air force agility prime programme, which aims to develop technologies for autonomous cargo and hybrid-electric aircraft. Joby and Archer have previously signed military contracts worth $131m (R2,357,768,942) and up to $142m (R2,555,943,200), respectively. "We have two aircraft at Edwards air force base, and we are grateful for all the support an learning out of that," said Joby Aviation's founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. "We think there are incredible opportunities on the defence side." Clark, who flew Beta's conventional takeoff and landing aircraft in Paris, said the company had a clear position in defence: reliable aircraft that showed up to every mission.
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