With the announcement of Halo’s order of 200 Embraer Eve and testing of other air taxi vehicles such as the eHang autonomous aerial vehicle the era of advanced urban mobility is rapidly gaining pace.
Horizon Aircraft, developer of the Cavorite X5, the first eVTOL which can fly the majority of its mission exactly like a normal aircraft, has released research giving a consumer view of the air taxi market. The research predicts the success for the newly emerging market, but only once regulation, safety and pilot training issues are addressed. It found that nearly two out of three would fly in an eVTOLs once they were approved and commercially viable.
The study, which interviewed participants in 10 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Asia, found 65 per cent of adults will fly in electric vertical take and landing (eVTOL) air taxis once they were approved by regulators in their own country while 61 per cent would use them in other countries where regulators have approved them. People in the UAE (87 per cent) and India (82 per cent) are the most likely to try air taxis once they are approved in their country while South Africans (88 per cent) are the most positive about other countries.
Just 16 per cent globally would not fly in air taxis if they are approved in their home country while one in five (20 per cent) are unsure. The figures are similar for using air taxis in other countries with 18 per cent definitely opposed and 21 per cent unsure.
Safety concerns must be addressed before UAM market takes off
Horizon said the responses indicated that safety issues would need to be rigorously addressed with three out of four (76 per cent) of those surveyed saying worries about eVTOL safety would be the biggest deterrent for using air taxis while 69 per cent would want reassurances about the training of pilots. Less than half (47 per cent) would be worried about the cost of flights while only 38 per cent say comfort during flights would be a concern and 43 per cent are worried about the environmental impact.
Horizon’s research shows widespread support globally for the development of the eVTOL industry and its potential impact on jobs and investment. Around 77 per cent questioned believe the development of the sector is positive.
Brandon Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Horizon Aircraft said: “There is strong support for the concept of air taxis and the eVTOL market in general worldwide, people are keen to use the aircraft, and very positive about the development of the sector.”
“That is reflected in the growing investment in eVTOL market with $900 million invested in the urban air mobility market in the first six months of 2020 and forecasts of much more investment in the coming years. The challenge for the industry is designing aircraft which are commercially viable and which, most importantly, meet the highest standards of safety to meet passenger expectations.”
Other key findings included:
- Just 16 per cent globally would not fly in air taxis if they are approved in their home country while one in five (20 per cent) were unsure. The figures are similar for using air taxis in other countries with 18 per cent definitely opposed and 21 per cent unsure.
- Safety issues need to be rigorously addressed with three out of four (76 per cent) of those surveyed saying worries about eVTOL safety would be the biggest deterrent for using air taxis while 69 per cent would want reassurances about the training of pilots.
- Less than half (47 per cent) would be worried about the cost of flights while only 38 per cent say comfort during flights would be a concern and 43 per cent were worried about the environmental impact.
- Horizon’s research shows widespread support globally for the development of the eVTOL industry and its potential impact on jobs and investment. Around 77 per cent questioned believe the development of the sector is positive.
The Horizon Aircraft Cavorite X5 has an additional layer of safety built into it. If the pilot goes too slow or has to go in and out of vertiport, they can do so because the wings open up and it turns into a helicopter that can stop in mid-air and then land and reverse.
Astro Aerospace,a leader in eVTOL aerial vehicles and drones, entered a binding agreement to acquire Horizon Aircraft Inc in February 2021. The transaction is expected to close on or before the beginning of 2nd quarter pending, customary closing conditions. In 2018, Astro’s drone, ‘Elroy’ was one of the first to seamlessly fly with humans on board. The acquisition of Horizon will enable the company to reach greater heights.
Horizon Aircraft commissioned market research company Pure Profile to interview 1,001 adults aged 18-plus in Australia, Canada, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, UK, and the US with equal numbers interviewed in each country using an online methodology in April 2021.
