In June, Alef Aeronautics, a California-based startup, announced they had received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test their all-electric Alef Model A — a flying car.
This special airworthiness certificate from the FAA allows exhibition, research, and development. It boosted Alef and the future when several companies are working on all-electric VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft.
However, Alef said that its Alef Model A vehicle doesn’t fall under the VTOL aircraft category; it’s different. It’s a car that can operate on roads and in the air — one that you can park in a standard parking space. This new flying car is set to hit airways in 2025.
FAA’s groundbreaking decision: The future is closer than ever
For more than a century, one of the most recurring themes in sci-fi predictions or futuristic movies has been flying cars. Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef, got inspired after watching the film Back to the Future.
This approval to test the flight of Alef’s cars may be the first step in making flying cars a reality. It could revolutionize several sectors by solving modern congestion problems.
“We’re excited to receive this certification from the FAA. It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week. This is one small step for planes, one giant step for cars,” Jim Dukhovny told CNN.
The evolution of flying car technology: From sci-fi dreams to reality
In recent years, we’ve seen rapid advancement of all-electric cars (EVs), and today, more than 26 million EVs are gracing our roads worldwide. But flying cars take it a notch higher.
Even before the invention of the airplane by the Wright Brothers, there was a desire to fly. In 1856, French sailor and aviator Jean-Marie Le Bris built a glider shaped like an albatross, which was the first ever recorded aircraft to fly higher than its point of departure — it soared up to 100m (330 feet) and covered 200m (660 feet).
However, Glenn Curtiss is credited as the first person to try the car-plane combination. In 1917, at the Pan American Aeronautic Exposition, Curtiss attempted to take off with his flying car, but his car didn’t fly. He decided to pursue other interests due to a lack of financial backers for his project.
Since Glenn Curtiss, several investors and inventors have tried to create the hybrid plane-car vehicle. They include Shermann Fairchild (1926), Eugene Vidal (1933), Robert Fulton’s Amphibian (1950s), and recently Wisk Aero’s flying taxi.
Alef’s Model A flying car is the culmination of this progress. Their car will drive just like your conventional car, but it has eight propellers that could help people avoid traffic jams or navigate impassable terrain.
Clearing the skies: The FAA’s approval process for flying cars
The FAA’s special airworthiness certificate is the official seal of approval from the U.S. government. Some things in the FAA checklist include the vehicle itself, access to the airspace, operator training, the framework for operations, infrastructure development, community engagement, and more.
To get approved to operate flying cars or taxis, there’s a five-step process you should meet:
- Pre-application phase — Ensures the applicant has the qualifications and resources to conduct safe and efficient operations. The applicant should also show they understand appropriate regulations and are willing to comply with set requirements.
- Formal application process — The applicant submits a “full Application Package” and won’t be accepted until all the required documents are submitted.
- Design assessment — The FAA reviews the applicant’s manual and other documents to ensure compliance with regulations and safe operating practices.
- Demonstration and inspection — This phase covers operations, maintenance security, and aviation security inspections. You should show you can competently manage a commercial air transport operation.
- Certification — An applicant is certified after demonstrating they can comply with regulations and efficiently operate air transport.
After testing their flying car, Alef car owners, for example, may be approved for piloted operations carrying passengers or cargo within the limits of their vehicle and FAA’s restrictions.
Flying car regulations: Balancing innovation and safety
Air taxis or VTOL vehicles have been touted as the best solution to congestion problems. However, Alef’s CEO admits there are still issues the company has to solve regarding safety.
First, there’s the issue of whether a vehicle in the air will be safe on the ground. Some speculate that the aspects that make a car safer in the air may render it unsafe on the road.
Also, there’s the issue of having several flying cars in the airspace, much like drones. How do you control that?
There are no concrete flying car regulations in place yet. Still, regulatory bodies like the FAA are working on regulations that cover safety and other issues like pollution, noise, security, sustainability, and cost.
In the U.S., Alef’s Model A is classified as a low-speed road vehicle limited to 25 to 35 mph.
Urban air mobility: Revolutionizing transportation in cities
As mentioned, the FAA and the automotive industries envisage flying cars as taxis. They say that flying cars will first use existing rules, such as instrument and visual flight rules, to enable greater vehicle performance and more freedom for the driver.
The flying taxis may operate within set pathways between “airports and vertiports” in the city center. These cars could shape how people work and commute in urban areas and how businesses will operate.
The future of transportation: Potential benefits and challenges of flying cars
One of the most apparent benefits of flying cars will be convenience. People lose hours in traffic jams, and at one time, we’ve all wished we could take off vertically and leave the traffic behind — or below.
Some eVTOL car enthusiasts also believe that they are suitable for the environment. They are electric and can travel shorter distances to make the same journey since they can take a more direct route,
Lastly, there will be less need for ground infrastructure, and they might free up the roads for pedestrians and cyclists.
On the downside, eVTOL vehicles are not designed to carry many people. For instance, Alef’s Model A will have one or two people on board, which may counteract the positive effects on the environment if the vehicle can’t be scaled up.
Another disadvantage is the cost and range of the flying vehicle. Model A costs about US$300,000; it can fly for 110 miles (177 km) and drive for 200 miles (322 km). It may be excellent for urban cities, but the range may not be enough for most people.
Other issues include noise, take-off and landing infrastructure (even if they say they don’t need it), and questions regarding the autonomy of flying. Will passengers need a flying license? Who will drive flying cars? Will everybody be allowed to own one? How will flying cars affect neighborhood life? Which jurisdiction is responsible for mid-air or on-road collisions?
Flying cars: The realization of our collective imagination
Isn’t it exciting to see flying taxis in the next few years? The stakeholders agree that there may be challenges in making the perfect car-plane hybrid and how to go about regulations.
It must also consider the VTOL car’s feasibility, equity, and sustainability. So while the vehicle may work under test conditions, it may be a long road to becoming a transportation reality. Still, Alef’s Model A showcases the spirit of innovation, and it’s a future worth imagining.
