FLYING CARS A REALITY? LOCALITIES COULD STALL eVTOLs.

Drones to Flying Taxis: Are Our Cities Ready for Takeoff?

The whirring of drones has become a familiar sound, but their impact extends far beyond aerial photography.

The FAA's Part 107 regulations in 2016 created a framework for commercial drone use. This, in turn, has become a crucial stepping stone for the exciting development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles – the flying taxis of tomorrow.

eVTOLs are the hottest news in #aviation for a variety of reasons--cheaper point-to-point travel and less impact on the environment.

The Federal Aviation Administration has outlined a plan for eVTOLs that could become a reality as soon as 2027.

Vertical magazine has a new story that shows key next steps federal regulators are proposing that could put eVTOLs on the launch pad.

Drones: A Test Flight for Urban Air Mobility

Part 107 standardized drone operations, fostering a vibrant industry and generating valuable data. This has become a real-world test bed for airspace integration, safety protocols, and urban air traffic management. Imagine pizza delivery drones paving the way for passenger eVTOLs!

On a serious note, eVTOL's could be the solution for point-to-point transportation of medical supplies or deliveries that use less jet fuel that has a significant impact on global warming.

“There’s a need in big cities for better transportation options. That’s why there’s so much excitement around the concept of eVTOLs — because they can easily take off and land in an urban environment, with little pollution or noise,” said Ajay Chavali, head of the commercial AAM practice at Deloitte.

JOBY Takes Center Stage: A Glimpse into the Future of Flight

Recently, Joby Aviation Aviation's public demonstration at NYC's Grand Central Station offered a thrilling glimpse into the future. Their sleek eVTOL showcased the potential for these innovative aircraft to ferry passengers quickly and efficiently between airports, city centers, and even bustling social hotspots.

Joby has partnered with Toyota Motor Corporation . Uber is partnering with Hyundai for an air taxi with a 60-mile range.

Airlines such as Delta Air Lines , United Airlines and Boeing have been quick to jump aboard.

Other manufacturers have joined the race , according to AZO Cleantech magazine.

The Runway Ahead: Zoning and Infrastructure Challenges

While excitement for eVTOLs is building, a key question remains – are our cities or local communities ready for takeoff?

Manufacturing of these aircraft is picking up speed, but local communities face potential zoning issues. Parking, infrastructure modifications, and noise pollution are all significant concerns that need to be addressed.

The Wall Street Journal targeted the issue that the quality of aircraft or routes will be make or break based on where they land.

But, the biggest issue is not where eVTOLs can fly...it's where they can take off and land. According to one source at the FAA, city fire marshals control where helicopters take off and land. They don't yet have infrastructure for energy needs or zoning and planning approval. Cities like Miami and New York are going to need to make adjustments that will be market-driven by demand and practicality.

What could stall the estimated $12.28 billion industry from 2024-2028...and beyond?

Adoption on the ground could stall eVTOLs.

While eVTOLs could be viable in big cities, the mass adoption of the concept will mean smaller cities and towns will have to welcome the new platform.

Imagine if during the time when the railroad, electric, phones or cable were rolled out across the United States, small municipalities decided against allowing the new technology in.

Fear of the unknown and not in my backyard (NIMBY) could be a harsh reality for the emerging technology.

The most advanced aircraft and environmentally-friendly modes of transportation might never take off if there is not local buy-in.

This is the missing link with the widespread adoption and growth of eVTOLs.

Civil Engineering Online raises a red flag in this story stating that much work needs to be done on the design and implementation of #vertiports (places eVTOLs take off and land).

The future of advanced air mobility #AAM will require a lot of education, collaboration on the ground and in the sky.

Civil Engineering Online quoted Deloitt's head of advanced air mobility practice Ajay Chavali. “There’s been a huge leap in technology to create these aircraft — and the progress is very exciting,” Chavali said.

“But there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to build out the required AAM infrastructure. There’s a lot of mechanics around building that. There are public acceptance challenges to that. Communities will be disrupted by it. So, as we continue to think about vertiports, we have to understand that it may be a model that is going to need to evolve,” said Chavali.

The FAA's Upcoming SFAR: A Potential Game Changer

The FAA's upcoming Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for powered-lift aircraft could be a game-changer. This SFAR is expected to remove the traditional runway requirement, allowing for takeoffs and landings from rooftops and dedicated vertiports.

A Brave New World of Flight: Are We Ready for Lift-Off?

While the potential for eVTOLs to revolutionize urban mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and create a whole new era of personal transportation is undeniable, we must acknowledge the challenges ahead. The success of flying taxis hinges on collaboration between manufacturers, regulators, and local communities.

The Future is Electric (and Vertical), But Collaboration is Key

The drone revolution has laid the groundwork for the eVTOL revolution. But with the FAA's upcoming SFAR, we're entering a brave new world that requires open communication and collaborative planning. Are our cities ready for this paradigm shift?

Future forward?

As an FAA part 107 certified drone pilot, I lived through the early growing pains of the roll out of drones in the national airspace.

The confusion was extensive--hobbyists could fly in controlled airspace, but commercial operators needed a federal authorization that could take up to 90 days.

That kind of complexity will likely get resolved thanks to the early struggles that presented themselves.

It cannot be stressed enough that having an aircraft and regulations to access the national airspace is one thing--but getting local approval for take off and landing is a whole other story.

For example, New York City has a law on the books in 1948 that bans the take off and landing of any aircraft except in designated areas. The goal was to keep aircraft operations centralized at airports.

Despite the archaic law, the city--with some of the already busiest airspace in the world--requires permits for drone take off and landings.

Who knows if structures in cities like New York are prepared for eVTOL take off and landing. No doubt, there will need to be studies on environmental impact and noise.

The sky is not quite the limit with eVTOLs until many moving parts are resolved. Hopefully, all of these issues get ironed out and we can develop a skyway that eases traffic congestion on the ground and assists with commerce, travel and tourism.

Roger Rosenbaum is an award-winning journalist, public relations executive, FAA part 107 certified drone pilot and volunteer FAA Safety Team Drone Pro (FAAST). He is the president of Brand-News-Team.