Would air taxis in Bangkok be a good idea?

[DaiHard]

A UK company, Vertical Aerospace, has just sold 200 of its vertical take off taxis to Japan. The company has orders for around another 1200 from around the world. Would they be a good idea for the crowded roads in BKK?

[Swiss1960]

No

a) to many cables

b) no landing spaces

c) taxi mafia wouldn't like them

[Albert Zweistein]

In this polluted air ?

[klauskunkel]

Just imagine the different kinds of U-turns they could do...

[poyai111]

BKK drivers have a huge problem dealing with speed and distance judgement. Compounded enormously if they have to deal with three dimensional incidents

[malibukid]

12 hours ago, Swiss1960 said:

No

a) to many cables

b) no landing spaces

c) taxi mafia wouldn't like them

taxi mafia would take them over and the prices would be sky high

[AgMech Cowboy]

The sky really is falling.

[Andrew65]

I think that in the UK there are strict rules on flying below 500 meters (?) over built-up areas?

Also, I believe that the private ownership of helicopters is banned in Thailand, so there's still a long way to go on this!????

[mfd101]

Maintenance might be a small problem.

[Doctor Tom]

2 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Maintenance might be a small problem.

flying ability would be a bigger one. 

[Liverpool Lou]

14 hours ago, Albert Zweistein said:

In this polluted air ?

The air's the same with these, with taxis or walking!

[Liverpool Lou]

27 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Maintenance might be a small problem.

Why?  

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

Also, I believe that the private ownership of helicopters is banned in Thailand, so there's still a long way to go on this!????

They're not helicopters. 

[Andyfez]

The army wouldnt allow it.

Too difficult to police

[hotchilli]

51 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Maintenance might be a small problem.

Maintenance and pilot training... 

[fabruer]

And who would pilot them. A lot of the current taxi drivers are severely challenged piloting a 4 wheeled vehicle, not to mention a flying one ????

[Kopitiam]

14 minutes ago, fabruer said:

And who would pilot them. A lot of the current taxi drivers are severely challenged piloting a 4 wheeled vehicle, not to mention a flying one ????

Don't worry, these will be pilotless flying taxis.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

They're not helicopters. 

Operates in the same fashion as the VTOL V-22 Osprey on takeoff and landing except all electrical, no carbon footprint. Otherwise operates as a propeller fixed wing aircraft in flight, albeit quietly.

 

[Liverpool Lou]

15 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

They're not helicopters. 

Operates in the same fashion as the VTOL V-22 Osprey on takeoff and landing except all electrical, no carbon footprint. Otherwise operates as a propeller fixed wing aircraft in flight, albeit quietly.

I know, so, as I said, they're not helicopters.

 

"...all electrical, no carbon footprint".

No carbon footprint, you sure about that?   How are they built, then, and does the electricity to charge them come from magic carbon footprint-free sources?!  

 

 

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, Swiss1960 said:

No

a) to many cables

b) no landing spaces

c) taxi mafia wouldn't like them

Drunk air-taxi drivers/pilots.

[Jen65]

sky's the limit !!  I think Thai's would need a Pilot's licence before I would go near one - probably safer if they were driverless  

[fabruer]

2 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

Don't worry, these will be pilotless flying taxis.

That would indeed be a massive upgrade though!

Also would cut down on potential talkative encounters, garlic smells, loud music from the radio and telephone calls including long conversations. I know, all can be dealt with but does it really have to happen in the first place?

Where available, I find Grab to be a rather great upgrade already. Now, if they went into the pilotless flying business - I would support that.

[Albert Zweistein]

6 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The air's the same with these, with taxis or walking!

No sense of humor or sarcasme.

[DJ54]

Great especially with the congestion on the streets.... land on helicopter pads if VTOL... 

[bangon04]

If a Farang is riding a remote (pilotless) VTOL air taxi, and the operator flies it into the side of a building...  then according to Thai tradition the Farang will be at fault because if the Farang did not come to Thailand........

so the dead Farang's family will also be liable for the damage to the building and all passers by...

[LikeItHot]

Looks like Singha has beat you to the punch with these eco friendly flying tuk tuks

 

[StevieAus]

17 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

I think that in the UK there are strict rules on flying below 500 meters (?) over built-up areas?

Also, I believe that the private ownership of helicopters is banned in Thailand, so there's still a long way to go on this!????

I thought I read recently that Bangkok Hospital had acquired a helicopter for use as an air ambulance.

[StevieAus]

12 hours ago, fabruer said:

That would indeed be a massive upgrade though!

Also would cut down on potential talkative encounters, garlic smells, loud music from the radio and telephone calls including long conversations. I know, all can be dealt with but does it really have to happen in the first place?

Where available, I find Grab to be a rather great upgrade already. Now, if they went into the pilotless flying business - I would support that.

I have encountered what you complain about in your second paragraph in both Australia and the UK, perhaps it is a world wide phenomenon with taxi drivers.

[actonion]

Air? its bad enough on the ground with this lot

[heybuz]

On 9/25/2021 at 5:16 AM, Swiss1960 said:

No

a) to many cables

b) no landing spaces

c) taxi mafia wouldn't like them

To hard to get out when they refuse to turn the meter on.