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Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
United Airlines plans to buy 200 flying electric taxis that it hopes will fly passengers to the airport within the next five years.
The US airline is one of the first major carriers to commit to the purchase of flying taxis.
[...] United and Mesa said they predict using the taxis to fly passengers over congested highways to hub airports.
California-based Archer says the taxis will be capable of flying a distance of 60 miles (95km) at 150 miles an hour (240km/h) and could nearly halve carbon dioxide emissions for passengers travelling to the airport.
"With the right technology, we can curb the impact aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies who will make this a reality early and find ways to help them get off the ground," United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby said in a statement.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 12 2021, @08:30AM
Make it look like The Bat from The Dark Knight Rises.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by janrinok on Friday February 12 2021, @08:58AM (4 children)
I feel that this is the airline industry trying to attribute the blame for CO2 emissions on to taxis as if they make a significant contribution when compared to aircraft. However, I do applaud their approach to supporting new technologies providing that they are putting as much effort - if not more - into cleaning up their own act at the same time.
(Score: 4, Informative) by PiMuNu on Friday February 12 2021, @09:32AM (3 children)
Fuel is a major cost for airlines - so fuel efficiency is a cost-driver. I am sure they are doing their best, if only for commercial reasons.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 12 2021, @10:01PM (2 children)
They are making headway in regards to pollution, but in some ways it is slowing down. Part of the problem is the lifetime of aircraft is incredibly long and the other part is they are incredibly expensive. Therefore, it can take quite some time for the newer tech to work its way down from the big long-hauls or major charters to the cargo, medium hauls, and smaller charters and then to the general aviator. A brand new jumbo makes less than half the CO2 of a new one 40 years ago and many former pollutants are gone or reduced by 90% or greater. Propeller craft have similar improvements. But that doesn't really matter when the average plane is old enough to drink.
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Friday February 12 2021, @11:12PM
Current electric plane technology is suitable for local commuter flights (such as to and from some of the islands near Vancouver, B.C.) Batteries are just too heavy. And unlike a load of fuel, which get lighter as the flight progresses, batteries don't lose much mass during the trip.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Saturday February 13 2021, @11:25AM
Sure, but economics is not blind - the cost of manufacture (full lifecycle cost, including e.g. raw material production) is expensive and carbon-intensive. There is very good reason to get the most out of the existing fleet, rather than replacing at great economic and environmental cost. Economic cost reflects quite well environmental cost in a lot of cases.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by RamiK on Friday February 12 2021, @09:34AM (9 children)
So and so mutations per year... Such and such reduced efficacy per mutation... That many units per month... This long R&D lag... Incompatibility between different vaccinations... Logistics issues... Costs to the economy forcing politicians to risk sending people to work despite needing a lockdown... Sugar, spice and everything nice...
And... Yup. 5 years is just about right before we have a slim chance to get out of the lockdowns cycles and the airlines discovers those flying taxis aren't working.
So, call me a cynic, but something tells me United Airlines's boardroom is invested in Archer stocks...
compiling...
(Score: 4, Interesting) by FatPhil on Friday February 12 2021, @10:18AM (4 children)
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/united-airlines-archer-flying-taxis/
"""
United Airlines steps up to buy $1B worth of Archer's future flying taxis
The startup plans for a reveal of its eVTOL machine sometime this year, but United is onboard.
[img] Archer has only released a teaser of its machine so far.
You probably haven't heard of Archer -- no, not the beloved animated sitcom, it's an aviation startup currently at work on an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. On Wednesday it landed a hefty purchase agreement from United Airlines. The company announced United will buy $1 billion worth of its upcoming eVTOLs as the airline looks at ways to diminish the industry's carbon footprint. It's a hell of a lot of trust to place in Archer, which hasn't shown its actual product yet.
Archer also announced that it's going public via a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. It further announced a common stock private investment from a handful of other companies, including Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Last month, the automaker partnered with Archer to give the benefit of its supply chain, engineering and design expertise. Archer also said at the time its production eVTOL will include cockpit elements from Stellantis' passenger vehicles. This emerging sector is turning into a wild weave of partnerships and connected dots.
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Back to the United purchase, and the airline said Archer's upcoming electric aircraft could play a big part in reducing emissions when it comes to traveling to and from the airport. The company sees the machines as possible zero-emission, and quick, ways to bring passengers to long-distance hubs to cut down on congestion. If United likes what it sees, the agreement allows for the purchase of another $500 million worth of eVTOLs, which could deploy as soon as 2024.
We should see the eVTOL debut in the coming months, but as more air taxi news floods the zone, it looks like 2021 could be a wild ride.
"""
So if it doesn't work as tech, it probably works as pump-and-dump!
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday February 12 2021, @10:21AM (3 children)
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday February 12 2021, @10:26AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/10/united-airlines-orders-electric-vertical-aircraft-invests-in-urban-air-mobility-spac.html
"""
To go from concept to certified aircraft, Archer is raising $1.1 billion through a SPAC merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp. The merger is valued at $3.8 billion. Among those backing the deal, two firms stand out: Stellantis and United Airlines.
"""
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 3, Insightful) by RamiK on Friday February 12 2021, @10:44AM (1 child)
Aha but you're missing the beauty that is the CORSIA agreements [icao.int].
That is, not only their eVTOLs purchase is going back to their pockets via the classic pump&dump, it's going to launder their carbon footprint debts per new regulations. And unlike, say, buying fleets of Teslas, they don't even have to drive the things.
Beautiful. Isn't it?
compiling...
(Score: 3, Informative) by legont on Friday February 12 2021, @12:15PM
Yep. Also, it's a way to make a huge pile of - should I say ours? - cash they accumulated from various covid help work. https://www.channel3000.com/despite-huge-losses-us-airlines-are-rolling-in-cash/ [channel3000.com]
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Friday February 12 2021, @03:49PM (3 children)
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Friday February 12 2021, @11:19PM (2 children)
If you think you moderated wrong, I believe it's possible to remoderate to cancel your previous moderation.
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Saturday February 13 2021, @08:50AM (1 child)
I don't think so - you can only moderate once per comment. Staff with privs to access the database can undo the moderation using SQL directly. Anyway, my incorrect mod has been corrected and the points adjusted accordingly.
However, I also sent RamiK a direct message apologising for my mistake and left a comment in the same thread likewise.
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Saturday February 13 2021, @06:17PM
My memory must be faulty. I remember once after a mistake in moderation subsequently changing it.
I'll have to experiment sometime.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Friday February 12 2021, @07:17PM (1 child)
Yet, for some reason, I'm thinking this won't help the average airline passenger too much. The First Class passenger, sure. They'll get a nice quick ride to the airport, bypassing all the traffic jams, etc. This isn't about saving the planet per se, this is about providing rich and/or business men with quick access to the airport.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Spamalope on Saturday February 13 2021, @03:35PM
That'd mean the price they're trying to beat is a private helicopter ride to the airport, right?