German company Volocopter will conduct flight test trials for air taxis in Singapore in the second half of 2019.

This futuristic announcement was made by the company at the Autonomy and the Urban Mobility Summit in Paris on Thursday, Oct. 18.

Trying out in Singapore's environment

The electrically-powered aircraft, called Volocopters, will be tested to verify if they can operate in Singapore’s urban environment.

The aircraft, based on drone technology, can fly two people for distances of less than 30km.

It can take off and land vertically like a helicopter.

The trials are supported by Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Can be flown using remote control

Volocopters can be flown fully-autonomous with a pilot on a joystick, or remote-controlled from the ground.

The type of flight mode most appropriate in Singapore will be tested in the trial.

The tests will also aim to find out the feasible air taxi routes in Singapore, how these flights can be managed, and the areas for landing.

MOT and CAAS told Channel News Asia trials will be conducted at as yet undisclosed locations with no human traffic or property.

The authorities also said they are exploring a third dimension to urban mobility via aerial vehicles.

Such drone technologies are “safer, quieter and potentially cheaper than conventional helicopters”.

Although not fully developed or in use yet, they are flown with greater regularity in Germany.

It also performed a public unmanned test flight in Dubai in September 2017.

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