Autonomous vehicles are already doing so well with two dimensions, why not add a z-axis?
The skies over parts of the US could soon get busier, as the Federal Aviation Administration launches pilot projects spanning 26 states to test electric air taxis and other next-gen aircraft, with operations expected to begin by summer 2026.
Selections for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) were announced by the FAA on Monday, with eight projects chosen to participate in the initiative. The program will run for three years after the first project begins operations, and the selected efforts span 26 states.
According to the FAA, the projects will explore operational concepts including urban air taxi services, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response operations, autonomous flight technologies, and offshore or energy-sector transportation.
“These partnerships will help us better understand how to safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System,” said FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe Advanced Air Mobility operations.”
This the same FAA that doesn’t have enough air traffic controllers to properly manage current aircraft for all airports and keep them from crashing? Or enough inspectors or whatever to ensure large planes used by hundreds of thousands of people per year are properly maintained and safe?
Spectacular idea to add another several thousand little high-tech high-fail flight pods to the mix!
The same FAA whose air traffic controllers Republicans have been shafting since Reagan, yep.
How and why is it not mostly automated at this point, anyway?
Probably for a similar reason the IRS runs off COBOL.
Allergic to improvements if they require significant overhaul.