Airbus’ Electric Air Taxi Lifts Off for First Time

The flight at Airbus’ test facility in Donauwörth, Germany, represents a key step toward commercializing the design, which combines the VTOL capability of a helicopter with the winged cruise of an airplane. The model is designed to transport passengers and cargo more quietly and sustainably than existing options.

“A big thank you to all our teams who have contributed to this important step in the marathon that is advanced air mobility,” said Even.

The FAA describes advanced air mobility (AAM) as an umbrella term for aircraft that are expected to introduce a range of new technologies and capabilities, from hydrogen-powered propulsion systems to autonomous flight.

Airbus, already a dominant player in traditional aviation, threw its hat in the AAM ring years ago with the introduction of the CityAirbus program. It announced the NextGen concept in 2021 and unveiled its first full-scale prototype to the public in March. At the time of the prototype reveal, the company said initial crewed flight testing would begin later this year, and it stuck to that timeline.

As its name implies, CityAirbus NextGen is intended to fly in urban environments such as bustling cities, where the streets below are clogged with traffic. It will be able to cover about 50 sm (43 nm) traveling at 75 mph (65 knots)

That doesn’t sound like much, but the aircraft’s main selling point is its ability to do so while producing zero emissions and operating with minimal landing room. According to Airbus, the model will produce less than 65 dBA of noise at cruising altitude and less than 70 dBA during takeoff and landing—equivalent to the volume of a typical conversation.

The lift-plus-cruise design weighs about 2 tons, with a 40-foot wingspan, V-shaped tail, fixed wings, and eight propellers, each powered by a pair of electrical power units. Many components were built in-house, but some, like the wings, flight controls, and electric motors, were supplied by partners.

The cyclic, pedal, and collective controls typical of rotorcraft will instead be replaced by a single piloting stick—which controls all aircraft axes—and human-machine interface. The configuration, which Airbus claims is a first in the helicopter industry, will allow a pilot to perform takeoff and landing, climb, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn, and approach with a single stick.

An automated flight mode, though, could enable remote operations down the line with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval.

Airbus will certify the design under EASA’s Special Condition for VTOL (SC-VTOL) regulations, with FAA certification in the following months or years. It plans to partner with operators and airlines worldwide to roll out the model during the second half of the decade.

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