The prospect of hailing a self-flying air taxi in Abu Dhabi has taken a step closer to reality after test flights took place in the UAE capital.
This trial was a "pivotal step towards integrating urban air mobility into everyday life", Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Friday.
The flights were organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council and Abu Dhabi Investment Office, in collaboration with Chinese drone manufacturer EHang and FinTech group Multi Level Group.
The National had previously reported how Ehang had reached an agreement with UAE-based Monarch Airplane Manufacturing to set up an aircraft production plant in Abu Dhabi.
Badr Al Olama, ADIO director general, said: "We’re turning future mobility into tangible nation building. With EHang and MLG, we are proving that urban air taxis will be a part of everyday life, here in Abu Dhabi and around the world.
"This is how we diversify our economy, cultivate homegrown capabilities and make the emirate a global leader in next-generation transport.”
The test flights were held to assess the performance of the air taxis and how they handle certain conditions, including performance in Abu Dhabi’s hot weather, alongside airspace co-ordination, route planning and vertiport operations.
"It reinforces our shared vision to lead the autonomous aerial mobility sector from the UAE to Africa and the Middle East," said Mohamed Salah, chief executive of Advanced Mobility Hub, a subsidiary of MLG. "This co-operation is a key pillar in positioning Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global hub for future transportation technologies.
"This achievement represents a major step toward the commercialisation and widespread adoption of low-altitude passenger aviation services.”
The test flights are the latest step towards Abu Dhabi introducing flying taxis to the public.
In March, US air taxi company Archer Aviation said it was working towards launching a fleet of flying taxis before the end of the year, viewing the Gulf as the perfect launch pad to demonstrate its vehicles to the rest of the world.
Abu Dhabi Aviation confirmed at the time an agreement was made to introduce the first fleet of Archer's Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft this year.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
RIDE%20ON
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AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
More on animal trafficking
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
The%20specs%20
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