Singapore to start air taxi trials later this year
Air taxis will soon be buzzing over the Singapore skyline.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced the first aerial trials will take place later this year.
The air taxis are made by German company Volocopter and can accommodate two passengers in short hops of up to 30km.
The Volocopter can be flown with a pilot or remotely from the ground.
It will have ‘unprecedented levels of safety’ said Volocopter CEO, Florian Reuter.
"In order to be operating these vehicles in cities around the world, we need to be as safe as commercial airlines. That is the safety level that has been set for this vehicle," he said.
It will begin with a series of private test flights over water manned by a pilot and then progress to public flight trials.
"We are looking at how we can use air transportation to complement our land transportation," said Tan Chun Wei, CAAS deputy director of transformation programmes.
A number of routes have been identified for possible operational flights after the service has been certified including international journeys north to Johor, Malaysia and south to the Indonesian island of Batam.
The volocopter has a maximum airspeed of 100kmh and can stay airborne for up to 30 minutes.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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