Jul 16, 2023: Flying cars are here! What is airworthiness? What is the inspiration behind this car? What are the risks? What is Airworthiness?
A California startup called Alef Automotive has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test their innovative vehicle known as the "Model A."
This vehicle is a unique combination of a flying car and an electric vehicle, making it the first of its kind to be approved by the US government.
The Model A by Alef Automotive is capable of both flying and traveling on regular roads. It is fully electric and has the ability to take off and land vertically.
What sets it apart is that it can function like a normal car, allowing it to be driven on public roads and parked conveniently. It can accommodate one or two people and has a road range of 322 kms, along with a flying range of 177 kms.
Alef Aeronautics has received official approval from the US Government for their flying car. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the company a special airworthiness1 certificate, which means that the vehicle meets the necessary safety and operational standards to fly in limited capacities. These purposes include exhibition, research, and development.
Airworthiness1 refers to the ability of an aircraft or flying vehicle to meet the safety requirements set by aviation authorities. When an aircraft or flying car is deemed "airworthy," it means it has passed inspections, tests, and meets all necessary standards to ensure its safe operation in the air. The special airworthiness certificate granted to Alef Aeronautics indicates that their flying car has been given the green light to fly for specific purposes while meeting the required safety regulations.
Many companies are currently developing all-electric VTOL2s (Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicle). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clarified that Alef is not the first company to receive a special airworthiness certificate for this type of aircraft. However, Alef emphasized that their vehicle stands out because it can operate on both roads and in the air, resembling a regular car and being able to park in standard parking spaces.
VTOL2 stands for Vertical Takeoff and Landing. However, it is important to note that VTOL is typically associated with aircraft rather than cars. In the world of aviation, VTOL refers to aircraft that have the capability to take off and land vertically, without requiring a runway. These aircraft can ascend and descend vertically like a helicopter but can also transition to horizontal flight like an airplane.
Jim Dukhovny, the CEO of Alef, expressed excitement about receiving the FAA certification, as it brings them closer to providing people with a faster and eco-friendly commute. He believes this innovation will save individuals and companies significant time each week.
Features - Alef's flying car is completely electric and boasts vertical takeoff and landing capabilities and has a unique flying configuration. According to Alef's website, the car will be certified as a "low-speed vehicle," limiting its maximum speed to around 40 km per hour on road. The company suggests that if a driver needs a faster route, they can utilize the car's flight capabilities. The flying car by Alef has a spherical passenger compartment, within a box-wing airplane frame. During flight, the car's body can rotate to enable smooth flying. The vehicle is designed to accommodate one or two passengers.
box-wing airplane frame- It means that the wings of the aircraft have a rectangular shape, with a top wing and a bottom wing connected by vertical supports. This design provides stability and strength to the aircraft, allowing for better control and lift during flight. The box-wing configuration is commonly used in certain types of aircraft to optimize performance and flexibility for better control.
Where does the inspiration of making flying cars come from?
Since 2015, a group of four friends—Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, Oleg Petrov, and Dukhovny—have been working on developing a flying car. They were inspired by the "Back to the Future" movies, which predicted the availability of flying cars by that year. Motivated by this vision, they formed a company to pursue the development of such vehicles.
According to Alef, the company successfully conducted an initial automated test flight of a basic version of the car in 2018, followed by a flight of a full-size prototype in 2019. However, to continue their research and development efforts, Alef needed the special airworthiness certificate from the FAA.
Tim Draper, an early investor in Tesla and Google, is providing the financial backing for Alef's flying car project. Since its launch in California on October 19, 2022, the company has received substantial pre-orders from both private individuals and commercial entities. In 2022 alone, over 440 vehicles were ordered at a price of 2.46 crore rupees each, resulting in a revenue of approximately 1083 crore rupees.
In summary, since 2015, the founders have been working on their flying car concept, conducted successful test flights, and garnered pre-orders, all driven by their passion for bringing the idea of flying cars to reality.
Flying cars sound nice don't they? But here are some noteworthy points to remember
Ensuring the safety of flying cars is a critical concern. There are potential risks related to air traffic management, avoiding collision, and maintaining the structural stability of the vehicle while in flight.
Flying cars would require a dedicated infrastructure, including landing and takeoff zones, charging stations, and maintenance facilities. Developing this infrastructure poses challenges in terms of planning, cost, and integration with existing transportation systems.
Introducing a large number of flying cars into the airspace could create congestion and require efficient air traffic management systems. Coordinating the movement of flying cars with existing aircrafts and ensuring safety will be a very difficult task to achieve.
Your regular driving license won’t work- Flying cars would require competent and trained pilots to operate them safely. Establishing appropriate training programs and licensing systems for flying car pilots will be crucial to ensure safety.
And well, you guessed it- They are very expensive!
It is important to address the risks systematically and partnering with industries and governments to ensure the safe and responsible development and deployment of flying cars.