German company Volocopter recently launched the world’s first air taxi service, giving passengers the ability to turn to electrically-powered, helicopter-like creations for inner city transport.
The creations are based on drone technology and are being touted as safe, quiet, and comfortable means to get around cities. Volocopter has already performed demonstrations in several cities around the world. Certain conditions, however, make cities more attractive to this method of travel than others.
For one, the company says potential cities need to have a moderate climate, with low wind levels. They also need a population of greater than 1 million people, with an urban sprawl of no less than 25 km (15 miles). These services are also best when dealing with a city that faces historically high traffic and congestion levels, despite an established public transport system.
While this limits the number of cities that can currently use Volocopter, the company hopes to have its first commercial air taxi routes in operation within two to three years.