Singapore to Launch World’s First Air Taxis

Singapore has announced plans to be the world’s first city to launch air taxis by the end of 2019.

The unique metropolitan transport project called ‘Voloport’ is a collaboration between UK-based aerospace firm Skyports, German aircraft maker Volocopter, German designer Brandlab, Los Angeles-based Graft Architects and UK consulting engineer Arup.

A voloport prototype with landing pads for the electric vehicles and full customer services will be built to allow the city’s officials to check the system before a formal request is made for approval.

The main challenges beyond building the necessary physical infrastructure are air traffic control and city regulations, though the company’s leaders are confident they will receive permission to proceed.

The first public flight trials are expected in the second half of 2019.

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