Avolon, Rolls-Royce invest in zero-emission mini-aircraft

London Reuters -- Fed up with traffic jams? Imagine a world where your taxi takes to the skies and sets off on top of your office building, recharges and starts afresh.

Some of the world's most prestigious engineers and airlines believe Vertical is onto something with its planned zero-emission mini-aircraft to almost silently carry four passengers through the skies for up to 120 miles 193 kms American Airlines, aircraft lessor Avolon, engineers Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, as well as Microsoft s M 12 unit are investing in the merger, expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Fitzpatrick, who also set up OVO Energy, Britain's No. Two, set up Ovo Energy and is now London's best-in-class. 3 energy retailer, said that Vertical flights between Canary Wharf airport in London and its Heathrow airport will take 15 minutes and cost 50 pounds $68 per passenger.

That potential is attracting airlines' attention. More than 1,000 VAX 4 aircraft have been pre-ordered by customers. In the interest in zero-emission aircraft, airbus comes at a time when airlines are under increasing pressure from investors to help decarbonize the sector and boost their environmental, social and governance ratings.

Fitzpatrick reported the appetite from airlines to really strong, Reuters said.

The biggest challenge facing Fitzpatrick is to confirm its aircraft, which will be funded by new money from the merger at the end of 2024.

Fitzpatrick had the idea first in 2015 when he sat in 10 lanes of gridlock traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil for hours.

There were actually quite a few competitors back then, he said, but today analysts estimate there are more than 100 companies working on rival electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing eVOTL aircraft.

The VA-X 4 is still in construction and will start test flights early next year. Fitzpatrick believes Vertical’s partnerships will help it emerge as a winner.

Using battery technology from the car industry, tested and tested electrical propulsion units and motors, and backed by Honeywell Electronics, Fitzpatrick has no doubt that VA-X 4 will fly.

Certification will depend on EASA - The process of certifying the aircraft is known. The technologies are new, but the steps we need to go through are relatively similar to other aircraft, said Fitzpatrick, who has recruited senior engineers from Airbus and Rolls-Royce respectively.

Developing a new mode of transportation comes with other challenges, such as the infrastructure, but Fitzpatrick is confident.

We're already in discussions with Heathrow Airport, for example, he said, pointed out of his office window to potential skyport locations on rooftops.

As for convincing passengers, that's where airlines come in?

I think brand association with trusted airlines is really going to help passengers embrace new technology, he said.