First electric air taxi flight in NYC
It won't be long before it becomes quite normal to whizz to downtown Manhattan in an electric air taxi after your arrival with KLM at JFK in New York. US Company Joby Aviation, specialized in development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has conducted the first electric air taxi flight in New York City.
Image by Joby Aviation
Following the first onboard pilot tests in October, this test was another breakthrough. Joby flew its eVTOL aircraft for an exhibition flight from the Downton Heliport in Manhattan. It was the first demonstration of the vehicle in an urban setting. AirportTechnology reports that Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt promised the spectators at the test flight to make “a quiet, emissions-free flight an affordable, everyday reality for New Yorkers while significantly reducing the impact of helicopter noise.”
For Joby, New York City is the expected early launch market for its services in 2025, as part of a partnership with Delta Air Lines. NYC is suitable for this role, says Joby, due to the potential of the technology in the city, which has become renowned for its high traffic congestion. Joby and Delta have been working with the Port Authority of New York and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on their plan to begin operations at the JFK and LaGuardia airports in the state.
