Electric flying taxis took off for the first time in New York

Flying taxi company Joby Aviation has just conducted the first test flights using an electric vertical take-off and landing device (eVTOL) connecting two locations in New York City on April 24 and continues to maintain testing this week.

The device has a design similar to a giant flycam, runs entirely on batteries and can accommodate 5 people (including the pilot). The aircraft’s operating mechanism allows it to take off vertically like a helicopter, then rotate the rotors to push the fuselage forward. According to the manufacturer, the outstanding advantage of this flying car is that it operates more smoothly than traditional helicopters and does not emit direct emissions into the environment.

The project’s goal is to connect existing helipads in Lower and Midtown Manhattan to JFK International Airport. This route usually takes 1 to 2 hours by car due to traffic jams, but with flying taxis, the time is shortened to nearly 10 minutes.

Currently, Joby owns Blade – a traditional helicopter flight sharing company, and maintains partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber.

Although Joby has conducted many test flights since 2023, this 10-day flight campaign is part of the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

“These flights advance our efforts to define how next-generation aviation technology serves the people of New York and New Jersey,” said Kevin O’Toole, Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the region’s airports.

In March, the US Department of Transportation selected eight pilot programs to test this type. Besides urban flying taxi services, fields such as inter-regional passenger transport, cargo transport, emergency food relief, autonomous flying and transport for the offshore energy industry are also being tested. Joby currently coordinates with the Port Authority of New York as well as transportation agencies in the states of Texas, Utah, Florida and North Carolina.

In 2024, the FAA issued new regulations that bring flying taxis closer to reality. Since then, companies like Joby have been working on testing for certification.

“These pilot projects will create one of the world’s largest realistic test environments for new generation aircraft, and the data collected will be used by the FAA to develop new regulations, helping to safely operate this future technology at scale,” a representative of the Ministry of Transportation said in March.

Currently, the project is in the final stages of inspection. If properly licensed by the FAA, visitors to New York will soon be able to experience commercial flying taxi services.