Flying taxis are lining up for certification

“THIS IS THEVTOLVTOL next revolution in flying,” says Mark Henning, a graduate of the Technical University of Munich and a 25-year veteran of the aerospace industry. Mr Henning is excited about his new job. After running projects for Airbus, a giant European aircraft-maker, he has joined AutoFlight, a Chinese firm, where he is responsible for getting the company’s small electrically powered air taxi approved by Europe’s air-safety regulators.Mr Henning is not alone in betting that electric vertical take-off and landing (e) aircraft have a bright future. Other aeronautical engineers have thrown in their lots with some 200 such projects around the world, attracting $5.1bn in investment last year, according to McKinsey, a consultancy (see chart). Most are working on designs that resemble hovering drones—using multiple small rotors to take off and land like a helicopter. The idea is that, being simpler, cheaper, greener and quieter than combustion-engined helicopters, es will be well suited to operate short-range passenger services across large urban areas, such as flying people between airports and city centres.