Building Trust in Passenger Drones

Building Trust in Passenger Drones

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A new passenger drone could be a steppingstone to a new form of convenient urban transportation. The electric-powered vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, the Hexa is currently targeting recreational crowd.

Matt Chasen, CEO of startup LIFT Aircraft is a former Boeing engineer with a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He explains that “today’s regulatory environment does not allow for a transportation use of these aircraft — yet” but his company will  “build public trust in the technology. Once that happens, it’s inevitable that people will want to use it for certain types of commuting flights,” even if it will take years.

To operate the Hexa, Chasen said, customers will undergo an orientation that includes watching safety videos and training in a virtual-reality simulator for up to an hour. A basic proficiency test will follow, then preflight checks with ground support.

According to washingtonpost.com, the drone-like aircraft — which is controlled using a joystick in the cockpit and stabilized by a flight computer — weighs 432 pounds, seats one person, and has 18 sets of propellers, motors and batteries. Prospective pilots have to weigh less than 250 pounds.

During flight, pilots can see safety information on an augmented-reality display inside the aircraft. In the event of an emergency, he said, flight controllers can take over the aircraft and fly it remotely like a drone.

The aircraft can travel just over 60 mph at top speed and includes air-cushioned floats, allowing it to land on water if necessary.

The company hopes to begin offering 15-minute flights over a popular lake outside Austin next year. It is also considering 25 cities across the US for other “aircraft hubs,” which would be located near tourist destinations and entertainment areas. Though the cities have yet to be named, the company is already accepting reservations.

Chasen said he doesn’t think the FAA will certify vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft for commercial transportation until they’re proved safe. Once that happens, he said, a new wave of alternative transportation is likely to quickly emerge.