Page 46 - TT Mag Feb 2024 Digital Edition_New

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

safety measures, regulations and the Beyond these planned routes
technologies involved with air taxis. by companies and official routes
The world is certainly that are yet to be mapped out
looking at air taxis The Infrastructure by authorities, many believe that
as a new frontier in Required for eVTOLs countries may use existing helicopter
infrastructure services - such as
urban transportation. As eVOTLs prepare for certification, routes and air traffic control services
By all indications, companies and governments are - wherever possible.
India is also beginning looking at the infrastructure required Regulations -
to support them. These include
to invest in this field vertiports, charging stations and The Drone Rules, 2021
through government maintenance facilities. According to With air taxi initiatives being
support and the a Mckinsey report, densely populated launched across the globe, countries
cities like New York would require at
creation of strategic least 20-30 locations by 2030, while are putting regulations in place to
partnerships. It medium sized cities like Dallas and support a new mode of transport.
India will also need to accelerate its
remains to be seen Denver would manage with 18-20 efforts in the same direction. One
locations.
if air taxis will be While some infrastructure will have positive step recently is the drone
able to surmount to be built from scratch, cities can also act in India. The Drone Rules, 2021,
provides both the physical and digital
the challenges and utilise existing assets. In New York City, infrastructure to support the safe
capitalise on their existing helicopter services already and effective use of drones in India.
incredible potential. transport passengers across the city. Since drones fly at a lower altitude
Air taxi infrastructure will make these
rides more accessible, enable helipads than conventional planes, this
regulation could come in handy, as
Public Resistance: and vertiports to be more accessible to the country moves towards setting up
the public and will expand this offering
Public perception around air taxis to a wider audience. air taxis. The act splits the airspace into
is mixed. Noise, environmental three distinct zones, categorising them
concerns, accusations of elitism and Routes for Air Taxis as the Green, Yellow and Red Zones.
safety have dogged discussions. Each zone has different regulations
However, various surveys conducted Countries will need to set planned and permissions related to the level of
have also recorded the public’s routes in place for eVTOLs, however, risk associated with flying in that area.
willingness and excitement to detailed routes are not available to The regulations are insufficient for
try these short-term flights. the public. In India, the InterGlobe electric air taxis. India should also
Governments and stakeholders and Archer Aviation agreement has consider regulations around airborne
in the industry will have to focus already kick started the process of navigation safety, landing and
on educating the public about the mapping out routes. takeoff patterns and proximity to

46 TrafficInfraTech / February 2024 / www.trafficinfratech.com