'New frontier': Austin leaders start discussions on air taxi technology

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Remember when people used to say, “In the future, we’ll have flying cars”? Well, that future is coming fast… kind of.

The city of Austin’s Mobility Committee heard the first of what is sure to be many discussions on technology for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, often called “air taxis,” during its regular meeting Thursday.

Assistant City Manager Mike Rogers briefed the committee with an 18-page presentation on the rise of eVTOL aircraft and its future in the U.S. He said he wanted to “start the conversation now so we could have conversations in the future” surrounding the technology.

This comes after the Trump Administration last month unveiled a pilot program to accelerate the use of electric air taxis.

NPR reported that the Department of Transportation said the Federal Aviation Administration’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) will develop “new frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operations” and form partnerships with private sector companies and state and local governments.

Rogers said it’s important for the city to be thinking about and discussing eVTOL aircraft and how they’ll impact the city because of the Trump Administration’s plan and because of growing interest and investments across the nation.

He also pointed to the potential infrastructure and land use impacts that eVTOL aircraft will likely have on the city.

Rogers also highlighted recent updates and news headlines related to the tech:

• October: Business Insider article on flying taxis taking flight in front of a U.S. crowd for the first time
• August: Business Insider article on Joby Aviation’s flying taxi’s test flight between two public U.S. airports
• June: Reuters article on air taxi maker Archer Aviation raising $850 million in funding following executive orders signed by President Trump to boost electric air taxis.
• May: Associated Press article on Archer Aviation’s plan to ferry fans and VIPs to venues at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
• April: Reuters article on Archer’s plans for a NYC air-taxi network in partnership with United Airlines

The presentation got into what Austin’s relationship with eVTOL aircraft could look like. That included things like designs for vertiports, which are designated landing and takeoff sites, and location examples, land use implications, infrastructure ripple effects, governance and planning gaps, and community reactions and policy debates in other cities.

“Cities right now are exploring ways to try to integrate these into their existing systems,” Rogers said during his presentation. “And really the main takeaway that I want to be able to leave with today is to really start to talk about the impact that this technology can have on land use and land use planning, and there can be many unforeseen circumstances that take place with this.”

“We’re in a new frontier right now when it comes to eVTOL,” Rogers added. “There is a rapid investment that is taking place within this country.”