TOKYO (Kashmir English): Japan government has started making arrangements to permit commercial flying car service in the country, carrying paying passengers as early as 2027 or 2028.
According to multiple government sources familiar with the development, operations are expected to begin with sightseeing flights in urban areas, before eventually expanding to point-to-point service such as routes linking cities and airports.
Passenger transportation by flying car, that could seat only a few people, is being seen as a potential once-in-a-century revolution in mobility that now appears to become a reality sooner than later.
Flying car is a broader term for electrically powered vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing.
Flying cars require small landing areas
Flying cars are relatively quiet and require only small landing areas, making them easier to operate even in densely built urban environments.
The innovation is expected to help ease traffic congestion in cities and provide a new transportation option in regional localities.
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry have already received applications for type certification under the Civil Aeronautics Law, a process required for aircraft mass production that also involves safety and other standards.
Commercial service is expected to begin with sightseeing flights in urban areas like waterfront districts in Tokyo and Osaka.
Within two to three years, the scope of the service is likely to widen to include short-distance travel between two points and routes linking major airports such as Narita and Kansai with nearby cities with competition among companies developing flying cars already intensifying.
