China tests flying taxis and hopes for a new economic sector. ‘He’s not breathing. He’s dead’ – father shoots son and then calls his wife

Chinese company Autoflight recently completed a successful flight with an all-electric aircraft between two cities.
Two prototypes named Prosperity-1 flew about 50 km as the crow flies from the technology metropolis of Shenzhen to the city of Zhuhai. Because the air taxis flew over a river delta, they completed the journey in just 20 minutes; by car it normally takes more than two hours.
The company wants to prove that its air taxis can be a quieter and low-emission alternative to helicopters. Prosperity-1 currently offers space for 5 people or a load capacity of 350 kg and has a range of 250 km.

However, despite being referenced in the company’s promotional materials, there were no humans on board during this test flight. The relevant certifications are still missing.

The test flight was conducted in collaboration with Heli-Eastern, a local helicopter company. This has already announced that it will add 100 Prosperity units to its fleet.
A freight version of Prosperity is also planned, which should be able to carry a load of 400 kg.

The dream of the ‘Low Altitude Economy’

China isn’t the only country feverishly pursuing air taxis and other small aircraft. Increasing battery capacity and constant advances in electric motors and drone technology are currently opening up a whole new sector of the economy. This is called the ‘low-lying economy’. The collective term includes all smaller and larger aircraft in low airspace up to approximately 1000 meters.

The views are diverse. Air taxis like Autoflight’s aim to simplify mobility in cities and enable quick travel compared to busy streets. It is doubtful whether the concept is really well thought out. As the number of taxis increases, they also require more and more space to take off and land. Compared to proven means of transportation, such as a subway system, they will almost never be able to serve the same capacity or use less energy. Instead, similar to helicopter flights, they are likely to appeal to wealthier customers looking to get ahead faster or to tourism.

A model with more passengers and range might one day compete with small planes. But there is also the catch here that vertical take-off and landing uses significantly more energy compared to a runway.

The much-discussed idea that in the future all packages will be delivered by drones will probably have to be grounded. However, drones will most likely see increasing use in other areas as well. For example, in the event of medical emergencies, during inspection work on electricity lines in surveying or in agriculture.

That is why China is currently pinning a lot of hope on the ‘low-lying economy’. At the central economic working conference in December, the government highlighted the country as a strategically important and growing sector of the economy. New landing areas for aircraft will be created in many places and air traffic rules will also be adjusted in their favor. With DJI, China also has the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial drones. We’ll see if Autoflight will have as much success with its air taxis.

(msh)

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