This will be an essential year for the pioneers developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft (电动垂直起降飞机), popularly known as air taxis. Several firms are hoping their craft can get the necessary certification (证书) in 2023 to put them into business, providing the first passengers with services.
Air taxis generally carry fewer than half a dozen passengers. They land and take off vertically using many small rotors (旋翼). With clever software controlling the rotors, they are easier to fly than a helicopter (a kind of plane) and enable independent flight. These rotors also help improve safety, as the aircraft can continue to fly if one fails.
Some designs use an extra rotor or two at the back of the craft to push the craft along in level flight. Others, like that produced by Joby Aviation, have rotors that bend forward; a set of small wings then provides lift, making more efficient use of the aircraft’s battery and increasing the range.
After scratching their heads about how to certify these flying machines, officials have been working with developers on safety standards. This is a time consuming process. Besides receiving “type” approval, which shows the safety of a new type of aircraft, factories must be certified before production can begin in large amounts. And airline-style permission is required if passengers are to be carried. Companies are working hard to get these approvals. Piloted operations are expected to be approved before independent flights.
In Germany, Volocopter will flight- test a family of eVTOLs. The firm is hoping its smallest, two-seater VoloCity can be certified in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris where the plan is to operate shuttles (航班) between airports and the athletes’ village. Other air taxi firms also hope to provide shuttles in Paris, or at the World Expo, which will take place in Japan in 2025.
【小题1】Which of the following contributes to a safer flight according to the text?| A．More rotors. | B．Smart software. |
| C．Fewer passengers. | D．Skillful pilots, |
| A．Being satisfied with, | B．Thinking hard about. |
| C．Being interested in. | D．Passing judgment on. |
| A．To show it at the World Expo. | B．To strengthen its pioneering role. |
| C．To operate it at the Paris Olympics. | D．To attract more visitors to Germany. |
| A．Green Transport Is Beginning to Take Shape | B．Flying Craft Have a Long Way to Go |
| C．Flying Taxis Win the Game | D．The Air Taxi Is Coming |
