- Title: Volocopter's flying taxi takes 'milestone' test flight in Singapore
- Date: 22nd October 2019
- Summary: SINGAPORE (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI TAKING OFF FROM LAUNCH PAD VARIOUS OF VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI FLYING BY SKYSCRAPERS MEDIA VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI LANDING ATTENDEES WATCHING VOLOCOPTER CEO FLORIAN REUTER, SPEAKING TO REPORTER REUTER SPEAKING VOLOCOPTER LOGO ON AIR TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOLOCOPTER CEO, FLORIAN REUTER, SAYING: "Today's test flight was truly a milestone forward for the introduction of urban air mobility. You know, from what the outset might look like a short flight, actually this was the first time that national civil aviation authority actually allowed a piloted flight at such an iconic scene in the heart of a megacity." VARIOUS OF MEDIA LOOKING AT VOLOCOPTER TAXI ON DISPLAY REPORTER CLIMBING INSIDE AIR TAXI COCKPIT SCREEN DISPLAY INSIDE AIR TAXI COCKPIT (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOLOCOPTER CEO, FLORIAN REUTER, SAYING: "Many of the world's largest megacities are home in Asia. So obviously, this is a natural market to us, and we see great progress on the side of the authorities (in) making new modes of transportation available. So, Asia is a natural fit for Volocopter being a new mode of transport for urban mobility, and yes, Asia is a very high up on our priority list on where we want to implement this technology first, and also where we also believe we can bring the most benefit to societies." VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI LANDING GEAR MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOLOCOPTER CEO, FLORIAN REUTER, SAYING: "There is a great need to revolutionise mobility, because simply with what we've done in the past, we're not going to counter, you know, this whole urbanisation trend, the pollution that's coming along with it and so on, so we're in great need of solutions. I think, several decades down the road, absolutely, this may even be the dominant mode of transportation, but who knows where this will actually lead us. We are here because we are absolutely convinced that we are now ready to take the first next step, and we invite everybody to come along with us, and then explore on how far this can take us." VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI BEING TOWED MARINA BAY
- Embargoed: 5th November 2019 07:55
- Keywords: Singapore Volocopter air taxi drone future test flight technology Marina Bay
- Location: SINGAPORE
- City: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA001B26G0G7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German aviation firm Volocopter's electric air taxi took a test flight on Tuesday (October 22) in Singapore's iconic Marina Bay.
The flight itself, which was manned by a lone pilot, lasted for about two minutes despite concerns of cancellation due to sporadic rainstorms that morning.
This is not the firm's first test flight in Singapore, but it is the first in the urban Marina Bay area.
"From what the outset might look like a short flight, actually this was the first time that national civil aviation authority actually allowed a piloted flight at such an iconic scene in the heart of a megacity," said Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter, speaking from a prototype "Voloport" in Marina Bay.
Reuters is aiming to have his company's air taxi services launched in Singapore as early as 2021 and is looking to expand in Asia, which he says is a "natural fit" for Volocopter as a "new mode of transport for urban mobility".
"Asia is a very high up on our priority list on where we want to implement this technology first, and also where we also believe we can bring the most benefit to societies," Reuter said.
Volocopter, backed by carmaker Daimler, announced plans in September for a partnership with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group that will bring its air taxis to China.
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