LOST VELOCITY: WILL WE STILL SEE EVTOLS IN AUSTRALIA?

The article discusses the current state of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, also known as air taxis, in Australia. It highlights the initial excitement and announcements surrounding the development of an air taxi industry, including the establishment of the Greenbird initiative. However, Greenbird has since shut down, and interest in the industry has waned. The article explores the challenges and unanswered questions surrounding eVTOL technology, such as battery limitations, infrastructure requirements, and regulatory issues. It also mentions Airservices Australia's plans to develop a national air traffic management system to integrate crewed and uncrewed aerial systems by the 2032 Olympics. The article concludes by acknowledging the complexity of establishing a fully functioning air taxi ecosystem and suggests that significant progress may not be seen until around 2032. [Extracted from the article]