The days of dreaming about flying cars are almost over. Saudi Arabia Holding Co. announced this week that single- and dual-occupancy “eCopters” will be deployed across Riyadh, the country’s capital city, for the Riyadh Expo 2030. The news follows increasing partnerships between eVTOL, or electric vertical take off and landing vehicles, with municipalities and other transportation sector operators looking to move people efficiently across major metro areas. In Riyadh, the aim is to provide effective transport to residents and visitors at the upcoming World Expo that will be held October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031.
Photo courtesy FlyNow Aviation
Saudi Arabia Will Fly People in Self-Driving Helicopters for the 2030 Riyadh Expo
This global event aims to be a platform for countries and organizations to showcase their innovations, technologies, and cultural achievements. The theme for Riyadh Expo 2030 is “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” making flying taxis a fitting piece of technology to have on offer. Built by FlyNow Aviation, the flying copters will be available to the public to use as transportation across the city during the event. Ample testing will be conducted with cargo prior to allowing humans into the copters. The copters will help people travel between accommodations and venues for the event without clogging city streets.
Photo courtesy FlyNow Aviation
Photo courtesy FlyNow Aviation
Photo courtesy FlyNow Aviation
FlyNow Aviation has also partnered with DriftX in Abu Dhabi for the eventual deployment of its machines for cargo transport. The rise of eVTOLs has received ample press in the United States with companies like Archer partnering with United Airlines to work towards flying air passengers to airports from busy city centers, helping them avoid traffic and removing the need to park at the airport. The aim of these companies and the municipalities and businesses that partner with them is to relieve traffic while providing an efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport to people in major urban areas. Time will tell if they’re successful, but if so, one regular player in Sci-Fi fantasies will have come to life. 