AA Reserves 50 Flying Taxis
Jul 18, 2022, 10:22 am
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AA Reserves 50 Flying Taxis
From the Register: https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/..._airlines_vx4/
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Could be quite interesting, especially for short haul flights on the east coast with frequent service, such as DCA/NYC/BOS.
Originally Posted by The Register
"American Airlines has committed to making pre-delivery payments for 50 Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric VTOL aircraft.
The commitment comes just over a year after the aviation giant made a pre-order for 250 of the flying taxis, with an option for a further 100.
...
Vertical Aerospace claims its VX4 will be 100x quieter than a helicopter and have a top speed of 202mph. Its range will be at least 100 miles and it can carry five people (including the pilot). Being electric, the aircraft will also have zero operating emissions, the company said.
Electric VTOL aircraft have long been a dream of designers around the world. There was, for example, the "Puffin" of 2010, but the VX4 has eschewed the flying car concept in favor of what amounts to a flying taxi. The aircraft is, however, subject to certification. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are to concurrently certify the machine with a view to operations commencing in the UK and Europe in 2025. A nod from the US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) will also be needed before the VX4 can commence US operations.
The commitment comes just over a year after the aviation giant made a pre-order for 250 of the flying taxis, with an option for a further 100.
...
Vertical Aerospace claims its VX4 will be 100x quieter than a helicopter and have a top speed of 202mph. Its range will be at least 100 miles and it can carry five people (including the pilot). Being electric, the aircraft will also have zero operating emissions, the company said.
Electric VTOL aircraft have long been a dream of designers around the world. There was, for example, the "Puffin" of 2010, but the VX4 has eschewed the flying car concept in favor of what amounts to a flying taxi. The aircraft is, however, subject to certification. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are to concurrently certify the machine with a view to operations commencing in the UK and Europe in 2025. A nod from the US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) will also be needed before the VX4 can commence US operations.
Could be quite interesting, especially for short haul flights on the east coast with frequent service, such as DCA/NYC/BOS.
Jul 18, 2022, 10:36 am
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Again, it's going to come down to cost. Few people can afford helicopter rides to the airport and only top executives of medium and large companies generally allow for such a service. I think it more of a marketing campaign to show off "green concern."
Jul 18, 2022, 10:44 am
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But maybe it'll be expensive and more inline with the helicopter service like you said. I didn't see anything on seating capacity, so maybe they're smaller than a plane but bigger than a helicopter, allowing more people to share them at a lower cost than helicopter.
I'm not sure how net green in the end they'll be, as a lot of power plants are still powered by fossil fuels. So while the plane itself may be green, it's fuel source still isn't. And how long is the charge time? Would be comparable to refueling?
It'll be intersting to see answers to the questions.
Jul 18, 2022, 11:37 am
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Could be. I'm just thinking of my short hops such as BWI-PHL which was only 90 miles and was usually service by a Dash-8 before they went to the little ERJs. Could make more sense on some of those routes with less demand and short hops. Probably wouldn't change the travel time much with such a short distance.
But maybe it'll be expensive and more inline with the helicopter service like you said. I didn't see anything on seating capacity, so maybe they're smaller than a plane but bigger than a helicopter, allowing more people to share them at a lower cost than helicopter.
I'm not sure how net green in the end they'll be, as a lot of power plants are still powered by fossil fuels. So while the plane itself may be green, it's fuel source still isn't. And how long is the charge time? Would be comparable to refueling?
It'll be intersting to see answers to the questions.
But maybe it'll be expensive and more inline with the helicopter service like you said. I didn't see anything on seating capacity, so maybe they're smaller than a plane but bigger than a helicopter, allowing more people to share them at a lower cost than helicopter.
I'm not sure how net green in the end they'll be, as a lot of power plants are still powered by fossil fuels. So while the plane itself may be green, it's fuel source still isn't. And how long is the charge time? Would be comparable to refueling?
It'll be intersting to see answers to the questions.
Maybe put them on the federal small airport contracts to provide 'service' and collect the subsidy for payment!
Really, I just don't see this working within the current airline model, but maybe as a special request service for the billionaire class.
Jul 18, 2022, 12:07 pm
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I think I read elsewhere yesterday that the seating capacity of these is like 4 passengers.
Maybe put them on the federal small airport contracts to provide 'service' and collect the subsidy for payment!
Really, I just don't see this working within the current airline model, but maybe as a special request service for the billionaire class.
Maybe put them on the federal small airport contracts to provide 'service' and collect the subsidy for payment!
Really, I just don't see this working within the current airline model, but maybe as a special request service for the billionaire class.
Jul 18, 2022, 12:59 pm
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Right, but I would bet the cost will be several times that of a uber, and if a significant number of these things are going, you have traffic of an entire different nature.
Jul 18, 2022, 2:12 pm
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Jul 18, 2022, 2:35 pm
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But maybe it'll be expensive and more inline with the helicopter service like you said. I didn't see anything on seating capacity, so maybe they're smaller than a plane but bigger than a helicopter, allowing more people to share them at a lower cost than helicopter.
It'll be intersting to see answers to the questions.
It'll be intersting to see answers to the questions.
Jul 18, 2022, 4:56 pm
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Quick search on the Internet suggesting a price tag of Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric VTOL aircraft to be $4 million based on the information provided by Vertical Aerospace. The price tag of Bell B206 JetRanger helicopter which usually carry 3-4 passenger is at $700,000. I don't know how AA is planning to operate Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric VTOL aircraft with a passenger ticket price cheaper than passenger helicopter flight.
If you can do 10 one-ways per day and they last 10 years (these are totally made up numbers by the way), $700k is only $20 per trip, or about $7 per ticket if they average 3 pax per trip (assuming capacity of 4). I would expect ongoing costs to be much, much higher.
Jul 18, 2022, 5:05 pm
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Exactly if they use existing runways then what happens with ATC holds? No thanks I'd take my chances in an Uber.
Jul 18, 2022, 6:26 pm
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