All-electric air taxi aims to solve north-west's connectivity issues
The air taxi has made its debut in Europe at this week's Farnborough international airshow
Last updated 23rd Jul 2024
A US company at this year's Farnborough international airshow claims we could soon be using all-electric air taxis to get around.
Joby Aviation is targeting the north-west of England which they say 'suffers' from under-investment and poor connectivity.
The company unveiled the aircraft for the first time in Europe at this week's Farnborough international airshow in north Hampshire.
A spokesman for the company said:
"While Joby believes London offers a significant opportunity for this new form of transport, we are also excited about the potential to connect the North, which suffers from underinvestment and limited connectivity.
"Joby's electric air taxis offer a revolutionary solution, with quick and affordable zero emissions journeys. For example, Joby has the potential to connect Manchester Airport to Leeds in just 15 minutes, compared to on average 90 minutes by car."
Joby has been developing its aircraft for over a decade, and has already accumulated over 33,000 miles in testing, including more than 100 flights with a pilot on board.
The company's commercial plans include offering a service that uses app-based aerial ridesharing to move people around congested cities, using quick charging to transport passengers while advancing progress toward zero-emission aviation.
They say a commercial service is due to start in Dubai at the end of next year.
To date, Joby say they've completed the first three of five stages of the certification process. The focus now is on completing testing and analysis of all the aircraft's components and systems and submitting the results to the FAA (the US regulator).