Boeing makes small electric planes that can fly without a pilot, says board member Marc Allen of the American aircraft manufacturer. These are aircraft that can transport a maximum of four people between different cities over short distances of no more than 145 kilometers. Boeing wants more people to fly this way.
Initially, the aircraft will be used for cargo flights, but Boeing is also developing aircraft for passenger transport. According to Allen, 80 percent of people worldwide have never flown. “We want to give more people the opportunity to fly. Especially in densely populated areas, passenger transport is a big challenge,” he says.
You can see how flying without a pilot works in this video:
With electrical devices, the aircraft manufacturer wants to meet the European climate target to be climate neutral by 2050. The aircraft must fly without pilots, but will be monitored remotely. Partner company Wisk has now completed 1600 test flights with this type, says Allen. According to him, the device is ready for certification.
Air taxis
The European Commission (EC) wants to make it possible to transport people between different cities in pilotless airplanes by 2035.
At the end of last year, the EC adopted a vision on the further development of the European drone market. It states, among other things, that air taxis must be able to fly completely autonomously, but that the first drone taxis will have a pilot on board. Drones must also be used to deliver medicines.
