According to the airports operator of the capital city, the aircraft will vertically take off and land and transport a single passenger between transportation hubs.
The Paris Olympic Games in 2024 are not the only ones getting ready, as the world’s first electric air taxi network is also preparing for launch. Speaking at Amsterdam Drone Week, Solène Le Bris from Groupe ADP, the operator of Paris airports, announced plans to launch the first e-VTOL pre-commercial service in the world, with five vertiports where passengers can board the vehicles. The VoloCity air taxis will use the existing helicopter route network and fly with one passenger and one pilot along two routes: from Charles de Gaulle airport to Le Bourget then to a new landing pad at Austerlitz Paris, and another route from Paris to Sans-Cyr. The project has been dubbed the “Tesla of the skies”, and the first vertiport has already opened in Cergy-Pontoise, serving as a test center.
According to Thierry Allain, who is the head of innovation at the Direction General de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) regulator, the priority should be a safety-focused strategy that relies on utilizing current networks. He stated that regulation issues are not particularly significant but acknowledged that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency must certify both the VoloCity and the operator. They are in the process of building the necessary regulations for this purpose.
Romain Erny, who is the head of aerospace and mobility at Choose Paris Region, stated that the future of air taxis depends on the public’s response. He mentioned that the Olympics and Paralympics are the second step, and the most crucial lesson is to evaluate people’s reaction to this new type of service. Erny added that for many Parisians, this concept still seems like science fiction, and they need to experience it first-hand and provide feedback. Therefore, the Olympics will be the starting point for this evaluation. Ankit Dass, the chief technology officer at Skyports, the British branch of the project, noted that the passenger experience in the ports is designed to be as seamless as possible. He added that while some cities want it to be like a metro, others prioritize greater security.
At present, the team of specialists is discussing whether they require additional landing pads in case of emergencies, and if wind turbulence generated by helicopters could have a detrimental impact, despite the air taxis flying at a lower altitude.
