Air Taxis? A New Frontier for Urban Transportation in India?

While cities across the globe are currently utilising helicopters and small commercial planes to help a small number of commuters cut down on travel times, innovations in the field will expand this service until it is eventually open to a wider audience, writes Sid Jalan.   

Imagine making the 90-minute drive from Connaught Place to Gurugram in Delhi in seven minutes, sitting in a plane, avoiding the heavy traffic on the roads. This trip is not only possible, but in a few years with the help of air taxis it will be inevitable.

Air taxis – small commercial planes and helicopters that can transport passengers in congested cities – seem to have flown straight out of a science fiction novel. What was once considered pure fantasy, is now an emerging reality backed by numbers. According to Deloitte, the air mobility market is estimated to reach $115 billion in the USA by 2035.

This new avenue of mobility has the potential to revolutionise urban transportation, providing commuters with a safe, efficient and sustainable mode of travel. It can improve productivity by cutting down traffic delays, have a positive impact on the environment, and offer relief to cities groaning under the growing burden of urban transportation needs – especially in India.

Of particular interest in the air mobility sector is a model of air taxis known as Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL). These vehicles can take off and land vertically (similar to helicopters), negating the need for runways, allowing them to operate comfortably within the confines of a busy city.

Air mobility – specifically air taxis – could also improve emergency services, boost tourism opportunities, provide critical services, inter-city trips, cargo deliveries, public services and even as private recreational vehicles.

Cargo will play a large role in the rise of air taxis across the globe. Consumers are quick to order online and expect swift deliveries. New methods of cargo deliveries will have to keep up with this rising demand. Air taxis will provide a convenient and quick way to deliver material and goods.

Air mobility movement

India is taking definitive steps towards air taxis. Recently, Sweden’s Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson was in the country, discussing the new avenues of aviation with India’s Civil Aviation Minister. Carlson predicted the beginning of deployment in five years.

This optimistic outlook is also shared by Indian companies – particularly startups. At the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, an incubated startup – ePlane – has plans to deploy air taxis by 2025. This 2-seater electric plane will ferry passengers within city limits, at a slightly higher cost than regular taxis.

What Technology Will Power Air Taxis?

Air mobility has quickly transformed from a pipe dream to a bustling industry, with manufacturers and investors showing great interest in advancing the field. While the system will rely on conventional fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters, manufacturers are also heavily investing in eVTOLs. Jet engines will be swapped out for electric motors, rotating wings and propellers will help eVTOLs manage their vertical takeoffs and landings. With manufacturers like Joby, Uber, Hyundai, Boeing, Lilium and others investing in eVTOLS, it is clear that the industry is looking towards an electric, sustainable means of air travel.

eVTOLs differ from helicopters with their low cost, low noise, and low carbon impact features. The range of these vehicles are around 150-250 kilometres and they can reach speeds up to 300 kilometres per hour. Manufacturers like Archer Aviation, Joby, Beta Technologies, Volocopter, Lilium, Wisk Aero and more are building and testing various eVTOLs and have flown them for thousands of hours, refining their designs and getting them ready for mass production.

The new aircrafts and systems in this field are designed to be more efficient and sustainable as they are powered by electric charging stations and can be autonomously/remotely piloted.

The infrastructure required to manage electric air taxis will – in theory – facilitate the smooth integration of air traffic management, communication networks and ground control systems. Additionally, governments and the aviation industries are also working hard to develop new aerospace frameworks that will foster best practices in the industry and maintain the safety, efficiency and sustainability of these air traffic operations. Importantly, technology will play a key role in assisting electric air taxis. These include:

• Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) systems
• Autonomous Flight Systems
• Airspace Integration Solutions
• Efficient Air Transportation Systems
• Communications Technology (advanced communicative technologies such as 6G with a non-cellular structure)
• Edge Computing
• Digital Software Solutions
• Battery Technology
• Generative AI
• Radio frequency, satellite and cellular communications
• Augmented and Virtual Reality for training

The Launch of Air Taxis Projects Worldwide

Countries across the world are launching air taxi projects. Israel established a government-led pilot project in 2019, known as the Israel Drone Initiative, with the aim of transporting passengers and cargo to ease traffic congestion. The project has started conducting tests of autonomous drones that are capable of ferrying cargo and commuters in 2023. Eleven delivery and drone operating companies were involved in these test flights, which involved Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing in a managed urban airspace.

The United States of America, China, and the United Arab Emirates are all gearing up to launch air taxi services, setting up projects, deadlines, teams and airspace blueprints in place.

Many aviation companies are ready to take off

Joby Aviation has signed an agreement with SkyPorts, a British company, to design, build and operate four vertiport sites across Dubai city. These initial vertiports will be located at Dubai International Airport, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai. A Chinese-based company known as Ehang has received an airworthiness certification for its autonomous passenger and cargo air taxi – making it the first in the world to do so. The EH216-S eVTOL taxis can carry two passengers or 600 pounds of cargo. The taxis are controlled by a centralised command centre that monitors various aspects such as routes, weather and the flight status. For safety reasons, the taxis feature backup batteries, communication links, rotors, emergency landing systems and parachutes in the event of a malfunction.

When it comes to cargo, these air taxis will be used for delivering goods – food, medical supplies and packages.

A recent development in India suggests that the country could be gearing up for the launch of air taxis in three of its most populated cities – Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. A California-based company Archer Aviation has unveiled plans to bring air taxis to India through a partnership with InterGlobe and backer of Indigo. Archer – has recently completed phase 1 of its flight test campaign. The Midnight eVTOL is designed to accommodate four passengers and the pilot on rapid, back-to-back trips with 12 minutes of charging time in between. The design features six propellers that aid in vertical flight and another half dozen that rotate forward to help the wings in cruise.

Cargo and Air Taxis:

India represents a unique opportunity for cargo, given that the market is blooming. Various factors, including economic growth, increased interest from foreign companies in India and growing EXIM trade have bolstered the Indian cargo market. In 2022, the Indian air cargo market generated 2.2 million tonnes of traffic. This makes the country the perfect destination for air taxis catering to cargo delivery.

Challenges that lie ahead

While the promise of air taxis and the air mobility industry shines bright, the way forward is clouded with challenges and a healthy dose of scepticism – both from authorities and the public.

Infrastructural Problems:

 Countries like India need to build a strong electrical grid and a vast network of charging locations to accommodate air taxis. Further, the launch pad (called vertiports) for these eVTOL taxis will be built atop high-rise buildings. Constructing stations across busy cities will require vast amounts of time, energy and money.

Airspace Regulations and Control:

Most countries are putting together regulations and policies to govern air taxis. However, there is no consensus internationally. Regulators will require a new framework and new systems of air traffic control to manage the movement of many air taxis out of vertiports and other terminals. What’s more, the aviation industry will have to define strict standards of safety – both in the air and on ground. Flight protocols must be devised so that aircrafts don’t fly close to each other. Finally, regulations must be put in place to safeguard the privacy of passengers.

Cost:

While air mobility provides a compelling alternative to more traditional modes of transport, it also comes at a high cost. Air mobility developer – Lilium – has revealed that each of its eVTOLs will cost an estimated $2.5 million and have a lifespan of 8 years. Lilium estimates that each vehicle will generate $5 million in revenue annually and return $10 million profit across its lifespan. The challenge lies in producing these vehicles in a swift and cost-effective manner. The high quality materials that are required to build these vehicles will be expensive to produce, slowing down the sector significantly. Furthermore, production is only one factor in how much these projects will cost. Infrastructure, operational costs, flight service costs will undoubtedly add to this challenge.

 Legal Issues:

Several legal issues have cast their shadow over the air mobility industry. High on this list are the liabilities attached to damage caused by accidents, contracts with the end users (commuters and cargo shippers), insurance limits for public protection, cyber threats and vulnerabilities that will be exposed by malicious actors, environmental laws pertaining to noise and land use, and more.

Environmental Impact:

Concerns have been raised about the noise of vehicles. The sound generated by take-off and landing could increase noise pollution in cities, impacting residents and local wildlife. Secondly, although the emissions from electric vehicles may be cleaner than traditional vehicles, the overall impact of emissions should be assessed (including the energy required for charging the electric air taxis).

Safety:

New technologies should be thoroughly tested and meet stringent safety standards to ensure smooth, reliable rides and reduce the risk of accidents. Robust systems and regulations need to be in place so that multiple air taxis can integrate into the existing airspace. Air taxis should be protected from cyber attacks that target flight control systems. Failure to do so could result in catastrophic accidents.

Wind gusts from high rise buildings could increase the chance of collisions. Air taxis are low-flying vehicles that travel at low speed, which makes them vulnerable to the wind and turbulence. Accurate and real-time information should be provided so that pilots and flight operators can make calculated decisions when flying/ remotely operating an air taxi.

The world is certainly looking at air taxis as a new frontier in urban transportation. By all indications, India is also beginning to invest in this field through government support and the creation of strategic partnerships. It remains to be seen if air taxis will be able to surmount the challenges and capitalise on their incredible potential.

Public Resistance:

Public perception around air taxis is mixed. Noise, environmental concerns, accusations of elitism and safety have dogged discussions. However, various surveys conducted have also recorded the public’s willingness and excitement to try these short-term flights. Governments and stakeholders in the industry will have to focus on educating the public about the safety measures, regulations and the technologies involved with air taxis.

The Infrastructure Required for eVTOLs

As eVOTLs prepare for certification, companies and governments are looking at the infrastructure required to support them. These include vertiports, charging stations and maintenance facilities. According to a Mckinsey report, densely populated cities like New York would require at least 20-30 locations by 2030, while medium sized cities like Dallas and Denver would manage with 18-20 locations.

While some infrastructure will have to be built from scratch, cities can also utilise existing assets. In New York City, existing helicopter services already transport passengers across the city. Air taxi infrastructure will make these rides more accessible, enable helipads and vertiports to be more accessible to the public and will expand this offering to a wider audience.

Routes for Air Taxis

Countries will need to set planned routes in place for eVTOLs, however, detailed routes are not available to the public. In India, the InterGlobe and Archer Aviation agreement has already kick started the process of mapping out routes.

Beyond these planned routes by companies and official routes that are yet to be mapped out by authorities, many believe that countries may use existing helicopter infrastructure services – such as routes and air traffic control services – wherever possible.

Regulations – The Drone Rules, 2021

With air taxi initiatives being launched across the globe, countries are putting regulations in place to support a new mode of transport. India will also need to accelerate its efforts in the same direction. One positive step recently is the drone act in India. The Drone Rules, 2021, provides both the physical and digital infrastructure to support the safe and effective use of drones in India.

Since drones fly at a lower altitude than conventional planes, this regulation could come in handy, as the country moves towards setting up air taxis. The act splits the airspace into three distinct zones, categorising them as the Green, Yellow and Red Zones. Each zone has different regulations and permissions related to the level of risk associated with flying in that area.

The regulations are insufficient for electric air taxis. India should also consider regulations around airborne navigation safety, landing and takeoff patterns and proximity to infrastructure. Strategic no-fly zones, air corridors and air policing systems should also be explored. The Drone Amendment Rules, 2023, lays out provisions regarding the eligibility of drone pilots and the procedures for obtaining remote pilot certifications. However, these rules will need to be tweaked or modified to handle larger and more complex vehicles like electric air taxis.

Green Zone	Yellow Zone	Red Zone
• The airspace over land areas/ territorial waters up to a vertical distance of 400 ft (120 metres) • Drones can be flown without permission, as long as the general safety guidelines of the Drone Rules are adhered to.	• Airspace above 400 feet (120 metres) within designated Green Zones. • The airspace is above 200 feet (60 metres) within a lateral distance of 8 to 12 kilometres from the perimeter of an operational airport. • Permission must be granted from Air Traffic Control (ATC) authorities in order to fly in the Yellow Zone.	• A strict no flying zone for civilians without explicit permission granted by the government. • It encompasses the airspace above: Land areas or territorial waters beyond territorial limits/Specified installations notified by the central government/Ports notified by the central government.

So what does the scenario look like for India?

Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia shared that India is on the “cusp of a new revolution”, with the advent of air taxis in the next 4-5 years.

India may see its first air taxi as soon as 2026. The to be launched all-electric air taxi service will offer competitive prices to on-road taxis services. There are plans to use this service for cargo, medical emergencies, logistics, and charter services.

Government Regulations and Responsibility:

According to the Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bhansal, the Civil Aviation Ministry is ready to begin formulating a policy framework concerning air taxis and will also commission a study on the matter. He added that the ministry regards eVTOLs as the next technology that the ministry will examine, as it has implications for both densely populated cities and sparsely populated rural areas. The Ministry will also be looking at the global protocols and standards regarding eVTOLs to understand the responsibilities of authorities and regulatory bodies when it comes to air taxis.

Autonomous / Remote Air Taxis

As electric air taxis inch closer and closer to certification, experts are looking at what kind of advancements can be made in the field. While some companies are building aircrafts that will be piloted by humans, others are designing eVTOLs that are autonomous or operated remotely. As with any discussion, there are benefits and risks associated with these choices.

Autonomous air taxis would bring efficiency and scalability to the industry. They would streamline operations, handle complex urban traffic flows, reduce operational costs (by doing away with the need for human pilots) and with robust safety protocols could theoretically reduce human error and boost overall safety.

So what is the downside?

We are nowhere close to the technological advancements that would bring about safe and reliable autonomous flights. This will also require thorough testing, which takes time. Additionally, robust regulations and infrastructure needs to be in place for secure and risk-free autonomous air taxi operation. Finally, public acceptance poses a barrier, and will require extensive flight demonstrations, clear communication and time.

Remote Air Taxis

Remote controlled air taxis seem to be a viable option, as it can leverage existing technology and potentially offer faster solutions than fully autonomous air taxis. This mode could also offer an additional layer of protection against unpredictable situations – which would help build public trust and confidence in air taxis. Finally, there are also existing regulations for remotely piloted aircrafts which could provide the basis for initial air taxi operations.

Where do the challenges arise?

Managing and paying for pilot training could be both challenging and expensive. The training will need to be extensive because pilots will have to safely control multiple air taxis in congested urban areas. Pilots will require support from advanced air traffic management systems in order to fly effectively. Finally, remote control range limits may restrict where these air taxis can operate, and could require
more infrastructure, like relay stations for support.