Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) innovator Joby Aviation announced that they will form a partnership to promote ridesharing in sustainable aircraft.
Toyota Motor Corporation has also joined this alliance, with the aim of entering the world of urban air mobility -UAM- and from there to detect opportunities for ground transportation.
With a range of nearly 250 km (150 miles), and a top speed of about 325 km per hour, Joby’s aircraft is designed to carry up to four passengers and a pilot, with zero emissions. The aircraft, which is powered by six propellers that rotate to take off vertically, can adjust its pitch and rotational speed. In this way, it can avoid the vortex interactions of the blades, which are what cause the sound commonly associated with that of traditional helicopters.
Their use on urban flights in Japan could greatly shorten transfer times. «For example, the 50-kilometer (31-mile) trip from Kansai International Airport to Osaka Station could take less than 15 minutes by plane, instead of an hour by car,» claims an ANA statement.
ANA’s statement
«ANA and Joby are ready to collaborate on all aspects of establishing this revolutionary new form of transportation in Japan, including infrastructure development, pilot training, flight operations, public acceptance, and regulatory requirements to operate. Integration with ground transportation will also be considered, with Toyota’s support in the effort. Joint discussions will also be held with relevant private companies, as well as local and national governments,» the airline added.
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said, «Joby exists to help people save time and reduce their carbon footprint. Japan offers us a spectacular opportunity to do just that with 92% of the population living in urban areas. In addition, Tokyo registers as one of the 20 most congested cities in the world.»
Koji Shibata, representative director and executive vice president of ANA Holdings expressed the following. «ANA has 70 years of experience in delivering safe and reliable flights to customers around the world. We are proud to bring that operational experience to the table as part of this partnership. And also to be at the forefront of introducing this revolutionary form of transportation in Japan (…) Our customers place a high value on efficiency. So being able to provide them with the option to travel quickly and sustainably from an international airport to a central location is very attractive.»
Under the plans, ANA will operate the air ride-sharing service with Joby aircraft, which will be offered through Uber in major markets. The idea also includes working with local ground service operators to offer customers complete trips tailored to their needs.
See also:eVTOL with a very unique shape performed its first controlled flight
