Dh350 air taxi rides to cut travel time from 45 minutes to 10
Save 45 minutes and travel 10 times faster with Dh350 air taxi rides.
Flying over traffic jams will be an option for emirate commuters as early as next year.
They will be missed: On leaving his daughters behind for a 45-day mission, UAE crew member Shareef AlRomaithi
Air taxis will be available to Dubai residents in a few years; how much will it cost? "Khaleej Times has learned" that each passenger will pay Dh350.
KT was shown a sneak peek at the flying taxi by the US aviation company Joby, which is set to launch in Dubai by the year 2025.
From above, passengers can take in stunning views of the city, but taking a flying cab is also a practical way to avoid traffic.
According to Bonny Simi, president of operations at Joby, these planes can reduce travel time between two Dubai locations by about 70%.
Driving time from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah is approximately 45 minutes to an hour. It will take no more than ten or twelve minutes by air taxi, according to Simi.
There is room for four people on this futuristic ride, not including the pilot. Additionally, there is a lot of space for luggage.
For residents of Dubai, "these air taxis will offer a comfortable, hassle-free and convenient travel experience," according to Simi.
Passengers can enjoy a peaceful and picturesque flight with a noise level of only 45 decibels as the aircraft flies at an altitude of 500 to 1,000 meters.
How far you have to travel determines the altitude. The plane will hover between 500 and 100 meters for shorter distances, and nearly 1,000 meters for longer ones, according to Simi.
After completing an aircraft-specific training program lasting six to eight weeks, a pilot with a commercial licence will be in control of the aircraft.
According to her, pilots undergo training to make sure they can fly safely and efficiently.
An app that Joby develops will allow passengers to book air taxi trips. Additionally, they will have the option to book a ride through Uber. The air taxi will be prepared to take off with as little as one passenger.
According to Simi, the air taxi can go from zero to one hundred percent in only ten minutes.
Prior to passengers disembarking, ground personnel will ensure that the charging points are connected upon arrival at vertiports. "The charging process is completed during the time between passenger transitions, when the plugs are swiftly removed once new passengers board and the aircraft is prepared for takeoff," she added.
Combined with a plane, it's like a helicopter
The manufacturer praises the aircraft's "remarkable stability" when flying.
It can take off vertically like a helicopter and accelerate smoothly like an airplane.
It can go from a vertical to a horizontal position with ease thanks to its six propulsion units. With a single charge, it can quickly reach speeds of up to 320 kmph and travel about 160 km.
The plane has six propellers, and each of those propellers is powered by two engines.
The safety of passengers is of the utmost importance, and Simi emphasized that each air taxi has 12 motors and four batteries, which provide outstanding reliability while in flight.
The first phase of the project will see the establishment of four vertiports in strategic locations around Dubai, including the airport, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai Marina.
"Vertiports atop towers might be a reality in the not-too-distant future. "It can be a primary travel model for many," Simi said, adding that many developers would want it within their community in the future.
Comments