Flying Taxis Could Be the Future of Olympic Transportation
Imagine soaring through the air in a helicopter taxi en route to the next Olympic event. It may sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie, but it could become a reality at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
During the Paris Olympics, there was a plan to introduce autonomous flying taxis to transport spectators around the city. The Volocopter aircraft, designed for this purpose, recently underwent a test flight in Versailles, marking the end of the 2024 Games with a stunning sunrise demonstration over the palace grounds.
Although the dream of utilizing these flying taxis during the Paris Olympics didn’t come to fruition due to certification delays, the creators are determined to make it happen for future events. The Volocopter aircraft, which took off from the historic gardens of Versailles, aims to revolutionize public transportation.
The Paris region had originally intended to deploy a fleet of pilot-less air taxis for the Olympics, partnering with Germany’s Volocopter and the Paris airport authority ADP. Plans included five different routes, one of which would have had taxis landing on a platform on the Seine River.
While the certification from Europe’s air safety agency didn’t come through in time for the Paris Games, the manufacturers of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are still optimistic about the future. Companies worldwide are working towards authorization for their models, with the hope of making flying taxis a common mode of transportation in the near future.
Volocopter is now setting its sights on obtaining permission to carry passengers over Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in December. Meanwhile, other competitors are eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the next opportunity to showcase the potential of autonomous flying machines for transporting spectators between venues.
The idea of flying taxis may have been delayed, but it seems that they are still very much a part of the future of public transportation. Who knows, in just a few years, we might all be hopping into helicopters for a quick ride to our next event!
Contributed by Angela Charlton in Paris
