{"685773":{"#nid":"685773","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Flying Taxis Are Nearly Here \u2014 What\u2019s Still Grounding Them","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new wave of aviation innovation is taking shape above our cities, where short flights in electric air taxis could complement cars and trains as part of everyday transportation. Known as\u0026nbsp;advanced air mobility (AAM), this emerging industry aims to connect communities more efficiently while reducing emissions and noise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore these futuristic aircraft can take off, Georgia Tech researchers say there\u2019s serious work to do \u2014 in the air, on the ground, and in policy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Now? The Technology Is Catching Up\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe same battery and automation technologies we\u2019re using in electric ground vehicles are now being scaled for aircraft,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/laurie-garrow\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELaurie Garrow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and co-director of Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Urban and Regional Air Mobility. \u201cWe\u2019re also seeing improvements in distributed propulsion and composite materials that make these aircraft lighter, quieter, and more efficient.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarrow cautions that widespread commercial service is years away. \u201cWe may see high-profile demonstrations soon, maybe even at global events like the Olympics, but aviation certification is a rigorous process. It takes time to earn public trust.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESafety, Regulation, and Public Acceptance\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe promise of AAM depends on more than aircraft design \u2014 it also requires new safety frameworks and public confidence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ll need to define what I call \u2018roads in the sky\u2019 \u2014 safe corridors where these aircraft can operate alongside traditional air traffic,\u201d Garrow said. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll need to ensure certification standards, air traffic control, and pilot training evolve alongside technology.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderstanding how these vehicles interact with complex urban environments is essential to safe operation.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/marilyn-j-smith\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMarilyn Smith\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, David Sloan Lews Professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering and director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence, leads research on modeling and simulation to prepare aircraft for real-world conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer lab is developing real-time simulations that factor in turbulence, wind shear, and other transient effects. \u201cThese predictions are not trivial,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe need fast, physics-based models that can run in near-real time to inform both design and regulation. There are significant and abrupt variations in the atmosphere that must be accounted for, both for passenger vehicles and smaller delivery drones.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmith\u2019s team is also integrating artificial intelligence to improve speed and accuracy in certification \u2014 but always under expert oversight. \u201cAI can accelerate our work,\u201d she said. \u201cWithout the knowledge of domain experts, machine learning can generate misleading results, and that\u2019s unacceptable when safety is on the line.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInfrastructure, Airspace, and the Urban Puzzle\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven the most advanced aircraft cannot operate without new infrastructure on the ground and in the sky.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVertiports are needed to allow aircraft to take off and land vertically. Also required are \u201ccharging systems and robust fire safety protocols for high-energy batteries,\u201d Garrow said. \u201cAnd perhaps most critically, we need \u2018rules of the road in the sky\u2019 to manage air traffic around existing airports.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta could offer a unique advantage. \u201cThe runways at Hartsfield-Jackson run east to west, while most of the metro population centers are north and south,\u201d Garrow noted. \u201cThat natural separation could make it easier to integrate vertical takeoff and landing operations.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/oettl\/index.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Oettl\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the Scheller College of Business, cautions that AAM\u2019s benefits could concentrate in major hubs without inclusive planning. \u201cImproved connectivity will raise productivity in \u2018superstar cities,\u2019 but we\u2019ll need new strategies if we want to ensure smaller communities aren\u2019t left behind,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChina\u2019s Head Start and What It Means for the U.S.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOettl notes that China has surged ahead in AAM thanks to coordinated government action, flexible regulations, and significant infrastructure investment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn contrast, the U.S. and Europe face more stringent certification requirements,\u201d Oettl said. \u201cThat slows deployment but ideally ensures stronger safety standards. It\u2019s a tradeoff between innovation speed and risk management.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECities and companies that move first into AAM could shape standards and attract investment \u2014 but they also shoulder more risk. \u201cThere\u2019s a danger of technological lock-in or stranded assets if early systems don\u2019t scale or demand falls short,\u201d Oettl said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen parallels before, like the scooter boom that left cities with thousands of idle vehicles.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead: The Urban Sky\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor now, AAM remains on the horizon \u2014 visible but not yet within reach. Coordinated efforts between government, industry, and academia will determine how quickly it moves from prototype to daily reality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia has been proactive in attracting aviation manufacturing,\u201d Garrow said. \u201cCoupled with our state\u2019s infrastructure and Georgia Tech\u2019s research ecosystem, we\u2019re well positioned to lead.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe added, \u201cIn aviation, we like to say we crawl, we walk, we run. These technologies are coming, but safely integrating them into our skies will take time, teamwork, and trust.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new wave of aviation innovation is taking off as advanced air mobility (AAM) , electric air taxis and short-range aircraft, promises to revolutionize urban transportation with faster, cleaner, and quieter travel. Researchers at Georgia Tech are at the forefront, developing the safety, infrastructure, and policy frameworks needed to make AAM a reality. Advances in battery technology, automation, and lightweight materials are driving progress, but certification and public trust remain key hurdles. Experts like Laurie Garrow, Marilyn Smith, and Alex Oettl emphasize collaboration across government, industry, and academia to ensure equitable access and safe integration into U.S. airspace. With its robust research ecosystem and aviation industry, Georgia is poised to become a national leader in sustainable air mobility.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As global competitors pull ahead, Georgia Tech experts urge focus on safety and infrastructure for advanced air mobility. "}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2025-10-17 12:45:50","changed_gmt":"2025-10-21 19:37:05","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678376":{"id":"678376","type":"image","title":"Air Taxi","body":null,"created":"1760706174","gmt_created":"2025-10-17 13:02:54","changed":"1760706626","gmt_changed":"2025-10-17 13:10:26","alt":"AI image of air taxis in futuristic setting","file":{"fid":"262394","name":"AdobeStock_1255716250.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/17\/AdobeStock_1255716250.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/17\/AdobeStock_1255716250.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3334360,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/17\/AdobeStock_1255716250.jpeg?itok=FvD00L-e"}}},"media_ids":["678376"],"related_links":[{"url":"entity:node\/685137","title":"Georgia Tech Opens New Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"}],"keywords":[{"id":"179801","name":"urban air mobility"},{"id":"194827","name":"advanced air mobility"},{"id":"194828","name":"flying taxis"},{"id":"194774","name":"air taxis"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aisles3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAyana Isles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESenior Media Relations Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}