To not be optimistic is the most expensive mistake to make
We just need to get out of our own way
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Trimming our sails we navigate from ancient Egypt to flying cars
Knowing what has stopped us having flying cars, when we started so well, can show us where we need to focus. The line from sailing, which humans have been doing for thousands of years to flight is clear. But it could have been quicker. The forces of nature and physics have not changed, only our understanding and applications of them. This should fill us with joy, we just need to apply ourselves and move faster.
Both sailing and flying involve the use of aerodynamic forces to propel an object. In sailing, the shape of the sail and the angle at which it is set determine the amount of lift and drag generated by the wind. In flying, the shape of the wings and the angle of attack determine the amount of lift and drag generated by the air.
Triangle beats square
The lateen sail or triangular sail was used in the 2nd century by Arabic sailors as opposed to square sails which were favoured by the Europeans at the time. This had a direct impact on which direction and at what speed the globe was explored in by the Europeans. Square sails work well with the wind behind you and triangular ones let you manoeuvre into the wind.
You can’t see the good ideas behind you by looking twice as hard at what’s in front of you. - Andrew Mercer
In fact for the next 1,200 years the Europeans growth ambitions were not realised. In what became know as The Age of Exploration they finally started using the then 1,200 year old technology and the '“new worlds” were reached, and all the good and bad that went with it was visited upon the world. These voyages were funded by what has now become know as Venture Capital. Without the lateen sail would America have become what it is today? It’s hard to tell but what we can safely say is the use of technology and transport led to its exponential growth. Not harnessing technology or failing to see what we have and apply it in a new way will lead us down a slow stagnant path.
During the renaissance Leonardo Da Vinci drew his now famous flying machines. Interesting and ambitious concepts that his benefactors encouraged and delighted at. These explorations of the possible bolstered the collective consciousness and opened minds to what could be. It did not matter at the time that some of the designed cogs and wheels were in the wrong direction or the materials needed were not yet available, the reaching for the stars was what mattered.
In a very interesting piece by Eli Dourado, 50 years of silence where he details if we had kept the pace of innovation from the 1940s to the 1970s we would be travelling at Mach-4 in supersonic aircraft across the Atlantic now, sheds some light on matters. Our slow progress is our fault and we need to make some changes, which we can.
Gordian Knot
During covid, laws that had been holding back innovation for years were simply swept aside to create or speed up vaccines. Clearly this regulatory debt needed to be removed but for some reason we had allowed it to build up. It wasn’t until we had a crisis that we found out that we had our own Alexandrian qualities. A department for removing regulatory debt or sunset mechanisms would have untold upside for many industries.
What’s apparent is that it’s not one thing holding back my flying car but mismatched incentives and a misaligned patchwork of raggle taggle rules. What if we had turned our sails sideways so to speak 5,000 years ago, would we have our flying cars now?
Where to focus
The truth is all around us. Practically, how can we help those building eVToLs, drones and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) scale their operations? How can those looking to get their flying cars airborne be respectful of the laws of the land and of the air rights owners while maintaining their laser like focus on getting the machines working with a reasonable level of safely? Without the ability to transit through the low altitude air space it is very hard for them to scale to any level of commercial sustainability. We have the incentive aligning solution jonathan@skytrades.io
European U-space
The EU's U-space drone management rules have been implemented across Europe since January 2023, allowing the safe operation of drones beyond visual line of sight for delivery purposes. This development could be significant for drone start-ups. Implementation of the rules will depend on governments designating U-space areas and the private service providers.
Normally implementation is not a quick process for any government unless it is to remove something we are doing rather than enabling something to be done.
While U-space is not a requirement for a drone service in urban areas, the right to transit through someones property is. U-space may provide a framework for efficient and regulated drone services but without the approval of air rights owners it will fail to take off.
U-space services involve a high level of digitalisation and automation, enabling registration and identification, flight planning and approval, interactions with air traffic control, and conflict detection. This is a step in the right direction for European low altitude air space and once the air rights owners are in the eco-system through our platform scale up can happen. It is not surprising that this U-space is now marred in slowing regulatory application.
Japan Drafts Guidelines To Put Flying Cars Into Use
A panel of Japanese government and public sector representatives has drawn up a draft to put flying cars into practical use. They see the vehicles as the next-generation mode of transport. The panel has been discussing drawing up regulations and systems to enable flying cars to take to Japan's skies.
The draft defines flying cars as vehicles that typically are powered by electricity, automated and take off and land vertically. The vehicles are divided into three types depending on the propellers or wings they have. They are to land or fly from designated areas or platforms called vertiports.
The draft says designated routes, or corridors, would be created for flying vehicles. It expects them to be widely used as a means of transportation, including in cases of emergencies. They will be put into commercial use by around 2025 and it aims to start developing corridors and vertiports from the latter half of the 2023/4, so the vehicles can be operated fully autonomously by around the 2030.
Air Taxis in Chicago
United Airlines and Archer's recent announcement of the first commercial electric air taxi route in Chicago marks an important milestone in the development of urban air mobility (UAM) infrastructure. By selecting O'Hare International Airport as the next point-to-point route for Archer's electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, United and Archer are taking a significant step towards integrating eVTOL aircraft operations into Chicago's transportation ecosystem by 2025.
Chicago's long-standing reputation as a major transportation center and leader in mobility innovation, coupled with United's largest operations hub at O'Hare, make it an ideal location for United and Archer to ramp up their UAM operations. The two companies are working with partners such as the City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation, World Business Chicago, the State of Illinois, ComEd, and Vertiport Chicago to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place to support the safe integration of eVTOL aircraft operations.
This announcement has important implications for the UAM industry and the future of transportation in urban areas. As the demand for more efficient, sustainable, and innovative transportation options increases, eVTOL aircraft are poised to become a critical component of urban mobility. United and Archer's collaboration in Chicago is an important step forward in the development of this new transportation ecosystem.
South Korean eVTOL in Irvine California
PLANA Aero has announced the opening of offices in Irvine, California, which will aid in the FAA certification process for its air taxi and help expand the company's footprint globally. The CEO is Braden J. Kim, who previously led the Hyundai Urban Air Mobility development program.
The company uses sustainable Aviation Fuel in its turbogenerator based serial hybrid powertrain, and can carry up to six passengers over 500 km at speeds up to 300 km/h. The company claims that the aircraft has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 80% compared to existing helicopters, making it an attractive option for environmentally conscious consumers.
In addition to its US expansion efforts they recently showcased a scaled-down prototype of its eVTOL at the 2023 Drone Show Korea. The company is currently conducting test flights and verification of the aircraft, and plans to participate in the Grand Challenge (K-UAM) demonstration project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.
How to speed up so we can get our flying car?
If you move fast and what you are doing fails, you have not wasted your limited time but ruled out one option and can move on to the next opportunity. If you move fast and what you are doing is a success, society has longer to enjoy it and reap the benefits.
We can see for centuries we have dragged our feet, dithered and wrung our hands. A simple turn of the sails could have catapulted civilisation forward if we had looked at things differently. What else could we look at differently to generate growth?
We have the ability to not only get our flying car but many other ground breaking, generational defining advancements, if we allow ourselves. It’s worth remembering that in New York city 40% of the buildings would not get approval to be built today due to regulations. This is just one example of us getting in our on way. Take the sword and cut the Gordian Knot.
To unblock and get us our flying cars at scale we are building the solution, those who would like to know more please contact me jonathan@skytrades.io
