Electric future for air travel
Christchurch has further cemented itself as an international hub of aerospace innovation, with a weekend event highlighting how the future of flying could be emissionfree.
As part of its Take Charge festival, Christchurch City Council had two zero exhaust emission aircraft that could change the way Kiwis travel on display at Tu¯ ranga from Saturday.
California-based startup Wisk had its all- electric, self-flying air taxi on public display for the first time – a plane designed to be so accessible, people could use it to fly every day.
‘‘It takes off like a helicopter, but flies like a plane, so you don’t need a runway or a lot of space for it,’’ Asia-Pacific regional director Anna Kominik said.
Despite having no pilot, the aircraft is designed to be incredibly safe, she said.
It is able to keep flying with just half of its engines operational, and if they all drop out, the plane is equipped with a ‘‘ballistic parachute’’ to propel passengers to safety.
Wisk has taken the air taxi for extensive test flights from its base in Tekapo, and is working with the Civil Aviation Authority, as well as the USA’s Federal Aviation Administration, to get it approved for public use.
While there are around 12 companies globally doing similar work, Kominik said no self-flying plane has never been certified before.
‘‘We’re not putting a timeframe on when it will be in use just yet.’’
Christchurch-based Electric Air also had its two-seater electric battery-powered aircraft on display outside. Founder Gary Freedman said the plane, which took to the skies last year, has been used to teach new pilots since January, with zero emissions.