The UAE government has issued a major update that could have an impact on when exactly flying taxis will take off in Dubai.
The General Civil Aviation Authority has begun mapping out air corridors and developing a regulatory framework for autonomous flying taxis and cargo drones.
So, what exactly does that mean? Well, it means that the government are figuring out where exactly the aerial cabs can fly to.
If you’ve been keeping up with every little flying taxi announcement in Dubai then you’ll already be aware that the RTA has already confirmed where the first four stations will be.
But to get between stations, there needs to be a safe passage for the taxis to fly through. Think of the air corridor as a road in the sky and it’ll start making more sense.
The announcement made at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Thursday February 13, established that the routes will connect key international airports such as DXB and Zayed International Airport with iconic places in the UAE.
This mapping out process looks like it will take around 20 months to be completed so we can expect flying taxis and cargo drones to take to the skies by the end of 2026.
And to make this possible, the General Civil Aviation Authority and the Advanced Technology Research Council entities – Technology Innovation Institute and ASPIRE – signed a strategic partnership to share technical expertise in airspace management.
These parties will work together to make sure that once flying taxis and cargo drones take to the skies, it’ll be as safe as possible.
The new air corridors will help relieve the pressure on traditional road networks and will hopefully cut down on congestion in a city as busy as Dubai.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, said that this is a very important step in the eventual adoption of flying taxis.
He said: “Air corridor mapping for piloted and autonomous air taxis and drones is a crucial milestone that will enable the seamless implementation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into the UAE’s infrastructure.
“This initiative ensures the safe and efficient adoption of air mobility, delivering transformative solutions to urban transport and paving the way for a smarter, more connected future.”
The World Governments Summit in Dubai has seen several major announcements which could change transport and travel in the UAE.
Perhaps most notably, billionaire Elon Musk announced plans to build the Dubai Loop underground tunnel in collaboration with the RTA.
The week kicked off with the reveal of the RTA Rail Bus project which looks like it’ll be a clean, quick way to get around the city.
Flying taxis have been in the pipeline in the UAE for some time with plans to introduce them in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as between the two cities.
Source: Timeoutdubai
