Key points
- All-electric aircraft features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities
- It carries four passengers and a pilot
ISLAMABAD: UAE has successfully conducted its first air taxi flight test — a milestone that signals the start of a new era in how residents and visitors may soon get around the city.
According to Gulf News, an aircraft, a fully electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, took flight at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, kicking off a testing programme designed specifically to handle the region’s extreme summer conditions — high heat, humidity and dust exposure.
The trial, conducted by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in partnership with U.S.-based Joby Aviation, took place at a desert test site and was attended by senior officials from the transport and aviation sectors, local media reports suggest.
“A significant step”
“This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,” Gulf News cited Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO as sayin.
The all-electric aircraft features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities, a top speed of 320 km/h, and a range of 160 km. It carries four passengers and a pilot, offering a low-noise, environmentally friendly solution suited to dense urban areas.
RTA said it plans to launch the first aerial taxi station near Dubai International Airport by 2026. Travel time between the airport and Palm Jumeirah is likely to be about 12 minutes.
The launch of the aerial taxi’s first test flight, the first of its kind in the region, was part of a series of daily test operations aimed at evaluating the aircraft’s performance within the local environment, in preparation for the commercial rollout of urban air mobility services, according to local media.
