Friday, September 25, 2020

Eco Helicopters Plans Air Taxi Service

Palm Springs-based Eco Helicopters, which is developing all electric helicopters, says it plans to launch an air taxi service in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in the second quarter of 2021. The company--which has demonstrated very short, battery powered flights on a modified Robinson R-44 Raven II helicopter--says it initially plans to use the "helicopters existing powerplant" for the service, until it receives an FAA supplemental Type Certification for its new battery powered propulsion system. The company says it is looking to create a service which uses "ultra-efficient, zero-emissions helicopter" which can be ordered up like a land-based rideshare. The company has posted videos to YouTube of its test flights, which show an approximate battery life on its helicopters of 30 minutes. A conventional Robinson R-44 has a range of 350 nautical miles with full fuel tanks; it's unclear what Eco Helicopters range would be with battery.

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