Ready to beat traffic from above? 🛫 This Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just opened the skies for air taxis by finalizing new rules for \"powered lift\" vehicles. These aren't your grandparents' planes or helicopters—they're a hybrid of both! Imagine a vehicle that takes off like a helicopter but flies like an airplane. Cool, right? 😎
The FAA's new regulations are a game-changer because the old rules just didn't cut it for these futuristic rides. With companies racing to develop electric-powered air transit options, the timing couldn't be better. We're talking about the first new category of civilian aircraft since helicopters buzzed onto the scene in the 1940s! 🚁
But wait, there's more! Not only do these rules lay out how pilots will get qualified and set minimum safe altitudes, but they also pave the way for innovative cargo deliveries. Think about getting your next package delivered from the sky! 📦🌤️
\"The rule is the final piece in the puzzle for safely introducing these aircraft in the near term,\" the FAA said. \"The opportunities for the use of powered lift operations are far-reaching.\"
This is big news for startups in the \"electric vertical take-off and landing\" (eVTOL) sector. Companies like Supernal, a branch of Hyundai, are hoping to launch air taxi services by 2028 in traffic-jammed cities like Los Angeles. 🏙️✈️
Across the pond, German startup Volocopter aimed to fly at the Paris Olympics but missed the certification deadline. No worries—they're gearing up to get certified by the end of the year. 🇩🇪🚁
The future is looking up—literally! So, are you ready to skip the road rage and take to the skies? 🌆☁️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
