Archer Aviation is closer than ever to its electric air taxis taking to the skies. On July 25, the company shared its newest model, a drone-like aircraft with 12 propellers and several seats for commuters looking to skip out on traffic.
The electric aviation company has broken ground on its factory in Covington, GA, setting its sights on October as its launch month. With this so close on the horizon, it offered a closer look at the futuristic taxis that may soon be transporting customers across the airways.
The Appeal of Air Taxis
Running on electric, the air taxis from Archer Aviation are built to be sustainable. Their power sources allow them to fly up to 60 miles and while they soar over roads, rides will only be slightly more expensive than a traditional taxi or rideshare — and they’ll be quicker. Additionally, these sleek taxis are about 100 times quieter than a standard helicopter.
Although the current prototype Archer Aviation has shared with the public isn’t capable of flight just yet, it’s a very realistic look at the type of flying taxis that might soon be launched from helipads into the skies across the U.S.
Plant Construction Has Started
The manufacturing hub for these skyborne vehicles will soon be based in the U.S. Just outside of Atlanta, the company chose to build the plant in close proximity to Covington Municipal Airport.
The plant will have capacity to build up to 650 helicopter-style aircraft annually. Over the next few years though, the factory has the capability of expanding up to 800,000 square feet, making room for the production of 2,300 taxis. With its opening, it’s also bringing around 1,000 new jobs to the area.
Plans for the Future of Air Taxis
The number of cars on the road in the U.S. grows every year, as does the population of cities. This contributes to more traffic and longer commute times — a bane for travelers and the environment.
The push for these electric air taxis is meant to cut down each of these issues and make flying taxis just as commonplace as road-bound rideshares.
Air Transport in Atlanta and Beyond—Conclusion
While Archer Aviation has crowned Georgia as its home for production, it certainly won’t be the only state that sees taxi runs in the sky. The company is already in talks with Southwest Airlines about creating new airport networks in California.
Next year, there are also plans for large metropolitan areas to adopt these air taxis, which will cut down on congestion across its highways and streets. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, and Miami are just a few of the locations where, in the near future, you can look up and expect to see a drone-style taxi zipping by — and perhaps even take one yourself.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Aerospace Trek
