France’s government approved on Tuesday (July 9) the construction of a floating landing pad on the Seine River, intended for use by air taxis (also known as flying taxis) during the Paris Olympics.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, an official order states that this floating landing site can be used until December 31, 2024. Before this approval, it was uncertain whether air taxis would be able to take off during the Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
The landing point will be floating on the Seine River near the Austerlitz train station in the southeast of Paris.
The order specifies that due to the “experimental nature” of air taxis, flights will be allowed from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a limit of 2 flights per hour, and a total of 900 flights throughout the testing period.
Private companies involved in the air taxi project include Paris airport operator ADP and the German company Volocopter. The two-seater aircraft, “Volocity,” is equipped with 18 electric rotors on a circular frame above the fuselage.
Although supporters see flying taxis as a low-carbon form of aviation and hope that future large-scale flying taxis can be used as ambulances or for other purposes, many Parisian officials believe that the project is harmful to the environment.
Individuals close to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told AFP on Tuesday that the city government plans to challenge the landing pad permit in court.
These air taxis have not been certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), meaning that operators can only provide free demonstration flights during the Olympic Games period.
France is currently making various preparations for the Paris Olympics, expressing concerns about potential cyber attacks and misinformation dissemination. In response, the United States government announced its assistance to France, including intelligence sharing and direct network support.
Given the malicious interference related to Russia that occurred in past Olympics over the last decade, these efforts are becoming increasingly important.