Kissimmee Gateway Airport is embracing the future of transportation by testing air taxis and advanced air mobility systems. According to Shaun Germolus, the airport’s director, the goal is for air taxis to operate like ride-sharing services, allowing passengers to travel from the airport to destinations such as Tampa and other locations across Florida.

Air Taxi Technology

The air taxis are electric vehicles that take off vertically, similar to helicopters or large drones. The airport has already conducted two rounds of testing on the aircraft, with practice flights and back-to-back rapid charging to see how fast they could get back in the air. Most of their runs are about a 60-mile circuit.

Earlier this year, Signature Aviation installed fast chargers outside its hangar, which can prepare an air taxi for flight in under an hour. The airport also demonstrated a device that communicates with the vehicles and the ground, enabling autonomous operation.

While these advancements mark significant progress, officials said they do not yet have a timeline for when air taxis will become commonplace. However, Germolus is optimistic, stating that air taxis are coming and will be manufactured, with many more expected in the next few years.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.