Image of a drone flying

This is a test model of an air taxi made by Joby Aviation.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images (air taxi)

Ready for Takeoff?

What if you could lift off in a flying taxi instead of inching along in traffic? You may be able to do that sooner than you think. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently released a plan to allow air taxis to fly over some cities by 2028. The FAA is the part of the U.S. government that oversees nonmilitary aircraft.

The FAA has given two companies approval for test flights. Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation hope to start affordable ride-sharing services. Think Uber for the sky. These air taxis run on electricity and could reach speeds of 150 to 200 miles per hour. Their propellers tilt up, allowing them to take off and land vertically like a helicopter.

Some people worry that air taxis won’t be safe. They’ll also require charging stations for their batteries. But if all goes well, air taxis could be in business before long. They might be zooming over cities by the time some of today’s sixth-graders get a driver’s license.

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