Air Taxi service

A tiny commercial aircraft that flies short distances on demand is known as an air taxi. Air taxi service (ATS) is on-demand airborne transportation for a single passenger or a small group of riders that will launch shortly to revolutionise how people commute.

NASA and aerospace industry research on the possible Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) and the expansion in light-jet aircraft manufacturing pushed air taxi operations forward in the United States in 2001. Air taxis have resurfaced in the burgeoning sector of personal air vehicles, such as passenger drones, since 2016.

Revolution of Air Taxi Service in India

The first air taxi service in India was established from Chandigarh, the capital of Haryana and Punjab states, creating a new era in air connectivity in India. The Air Taxi service Aviation Companies flying taxi in India from Chandigarh to Hisar, Haryana, took off the other day.

Taxi operators are air carriers that transport people, their possessions, and commodities inside the boundaries of the Indian Union. Air taxi operators must do charter and non-scheduled operations. Individual passengers will not be given tickets since each flight will need DGCA clearance. On the other hand, an air taxi operator has the option of selling tickets to individual clients on routes not serviced by any scheduled operator, and the DGCA's approval is not needed for each journey. Air taxi booking services to destinations outside of India are not permitted, according to the DGCA.

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What are The Requirements for Air Taxi Operation?

For air taxi operations, multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft and single or Helicopters with many engines may be used. According to the DGCA, pressurized aircraft that are to be imported for passenger air taxi operations must be less than 15 years old or have completed 75% of their design economic cycles or 45,000 pressurization cycles, whichever is less.

The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis for unpressurized aircraft and aircraft designed solely for cargo services, based on a thorough study of the aircraft's history. Eligible applicants may purchase aircraft using their foreign currency resources by arranging foreign exchange on the open market. But they have to follow Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of India standards and regulations. Before import, permission for specific aircraft suited for air taxi operations must be obtained from the appropriate authorities. With the consent of the relevant authorities, an air taxi operator may lease suitable aircraft across the country for air taxi operations. Every aeroplane will be approved on the Air Taxi Operators' Permit before being utilised for operations.

Air Taxi Operations in India

The air taxis can be filled with four seats, a pilot seat, and a passenger seat, taking 45 minutes to reach both places. In January, the first air taxi service in India, the UDAN Scheme, commenced with a three-seater aircraft from Chandigarh Airport as part of the RCS-UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme. Other additional Indian firms are creating UAMs.

Chandigarh, the capital of Haryana and the Punjab state, launched the country's first aviation taxi service and launched a new period in Indian air connectivity. Another day took off from Chandigarh to Hisar, Haryana, the first flight of the Air Taxi Aviation Company air taxi service.

From time to time, we hear in the media that certain players want to launch "air taxi" operations in states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and others. The Uttar Pradesh government considered allowing private companies to start operating air taxis in February of this year to increase tourism. This subject is frequently discussed in the media, yet nothing has come of it. 

Difference Between Air Charter Service and Air Taxi Service

The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States does not distinguish between the terms "air taxi" and "air charter" (a term said to have been popularised by Fred Gevalt at the Air Charter Guide). "Air taxis are on-demand trips from point A to point B in a small aircraft," says Glenn Phillips of Air Charter Services in the United Kingdom. Most of the time, the plane is so tiny that your head will touch the ceiling if you stand in it." Private charter air taxi services are mentioned on the Air Charter Services India website. However, Phillips confirmed that the India operations do not operate air taxis.

In industrialized nations, air taxi services are comparable to "shared cab" services, in which a customer pays for a one-way or round-trip fee to their destination. That aircraft may also include other passengers. Unlike a charter, where you must hire the complete aircraft and all its accessories, an air taxi booking operates on a 'pay per seat' basis rather than a 'pay per aircraft' one. Because of the nature of the 'shared services' industry, air taxis are expected to fly regular routes, and the recommended aircraft size is tiny or extremely light jets. Because there are less than ten people on very light planes, they are more controllable, and it appears to be simpler to fill specific seats.

Fate of Air Taxi Service In India

All eyes are on the sky as the world of urban mobility transforms. For years, electrically driven roadable aircraft, often known as air taxis or flying taxis, automobiles, have been discussed. While aviation laws and related infrastructure have long been problems, the sector has seen continuous innovations. In addition, India's government announced a new strategy and set of guidelines for the use of drones and unmanned aircraft systems. Drones now have a weight limit of 500 kg under these new restrictions, up from 300 kilograms previously. Drone taxis and drones that can carry big payloads are examples of this. 

Booking of Air taxi Service in India

Air Taxi Booking may be made via the company's official website. You may also charter a private plane, although the costs will vary. The air taxi service's only aim is to provide air connectivity between metros and tier-2 and tier-3 locations around the country.

For a flight with four to six passengers, the Air taxi price in India costs between 1,900 and 2,400 euros per hour, excluding tax (VAT is 10 percent for domestic flights, flights abroad are exempt).

Air taxi price in India Passengers can choose to pay Rs. 1,755 per seat for the service. One pilot and three passengers can travel in comfort in the air taxi. With 760 kg, this air taxi is the world's smallest twin-engine plane (empty weight). It may run on avgas/standard 92 octane gasoline (Aviation Turbine Fuel) instead of ATF. It has a 742-mile range. The Tecnam P2006T, a tiny twin-engined air taxi, is housed in the air taxi. Costruzioni Aeronautic Tecnam is the company behind it. It supports the government's goal of improving air connection with metros to its Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. For more excellent connectivity with smaller communities, the government provides a subsidy to airlines per seat.

Air Taxi Association and its Functions

The Air Taxi Association (ATXA) was established in June 2007 to promote adopting the next-generation air taxi concept, also known as very light jets.

As part of a plan to ease traffic congestion in urban areas, an air taxi service (ATS), an aerial on-demand form of transportation, is expected to be launched in the following years. Many survey articles in the field of air taxis and related issues were investigated for this study. A study of recent studies in demand prediction, air taxi network design, vehicle designs, and current state-of-the-art air taxi research was conducted. After that, it was looked for and analysed any potential unresolved issues with air taxi operations (ride-matching, pricing methods, vehicle maintenance scheduling, and pilot training and recruiting). 

The future research plan, which covers themes under each of the primary areas were studied after reviewing past work and overcoming the associated difficulties are offered.

The topics in this article will help academics and practitioners better understand air taxi operations, research challenges that need to be addressed from the standpoint of operations management, and prospective future works.