(PLO)- Many countries have produced and tested personal flying vehicles with names such as flying motorcycles, flying cars and Vietnam has also begun to pay attention to this field.
Flying motorbike is a new form of personal and passenger transport not only in Vietnam (VN) but also in the world. Experts and regulatory agencies say that the benefits from private flying vehicles are huge, but a long route is needed to test, build infrastructure and legal corridors before licensing operations. exploit.
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The flying motorcycle model was introduced at the Vietnam Motor Show 2022. Photo: Q.HUY |
Flying motorbike “made in Vietnam”: Many opportunities
Recently, at the Vietnam Motor Show 2022, a Vietnamese technology company, Airlios, brought to show a number of personal flying devices called flying motorcycles designed and manufactured by this company.
According to the company’s introduction, the flying motorcycle has been tested for more than 100 hours and traveled a total distance of 1,000 km in a safe area. The flying vehicle is made up of two main materials: aluminum alloy and carbon fiber, the propeller is made of wood, and the outside is covered with carbon. The device is powered by eight motors, powered by a lithium-ion battery and a backup power source with a dual battery setup. In the event of an engine failure or failure, the flying motorbike will still operate normally and then find the closest and fastest landing spot.
“Motorcycles operate in two ways, one is directly controlled by the driver and the other is automatic. Drivers must undergo Airlios training. If you choose to drive automatically, the user chooses the destination and the motorbike will fly according to the coded, registered and monitored schedule to ensure safety “- a representative of this company shared.
This product may be popular in the future because of its usefulness, but it needs a long process to test and evaluate.
Assoc. Prof-Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong, former Head of Aeronautical Engineering Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said that there are not many legal regulations related to the product line of flying motorcycles in Vietnam. Vietnam’s aviation legislation is often used for vehicles that have been applied in practice, but have not been regulated before. In this field, developed countries have gone ahead and Vietnam should refer to appropriate regulations.
Mr. Tong welcomed the idea of Airlios and said that this type will solve many problems, air travel will support both in the city. However, this product is very picky about customers, not to mention a lot in terms of traffic, if it is used widely, it will be unsafe.
“The state also has to consider making legal provisions on this type. For example, check whether flying motorcycles are eligible for flight safety or not and periodically check them,” said Mr. Tong.
Airlios’ personal flying vehicle is expected to be offered for sale at a price of about VND2.2-2.4 billion. With the standard version, the “made in Vietnam” flying motorcycle has a length of 1.9 m, a height of 1.15 m and a wingspan of 2 m. The static weight is 220 kg and the maximum take-off weight is 320 kg, the payload reaches 100 kg. The flying motorcycle has only one seat. Maximum flight distance 33 km, maximum speed
100 km/h and a maximum flight time of 20 minutes. Flight altitude less than 120 m. It is expected that commercial products will be officially sold on the market in 2027 in the form of outright sale or transportation service.
Need a long route to practical application
Assoc. Prof-Dr. Do Van Dung, former Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education, said that in foreign countries, if the power line goes underground, flying motorbikes are feasible, while Vietnam has many electrical wires, including high electricity. So it would be quite inconvenient. Although the flying motorcycle is programmed to avoid obstacles, it cannot be confirmed that it operates stably during the flight.
According to Mr. Dung, this is a product line with a good idea but difficult to be feasible in Vietnam. If applicable, it is only suitable for specific areas, places to experience such as tourism, sightseeing like experiencing a sightseeing helicopter in Ho Chi Minh City.
“Product prices of 2-2.4 billion VND can only reach the rich. Not to mention, like electric cars, battery life and charging stations are important. A legal issue is how the license to drive a vehicle with a flying motorcycle driver will be regulated “- Mr. Dung asked.
There are also many concerns, Mr. Tran Doan Mau, Director of the Southern Airport Authority, said that personal flying vehicles, like unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones and drones, must be registered with the Ministry of National Defense. . The Ministry of National Defense will manage and grant permits to minimize the risk of unsafety for military and civil activities, affecting social order and safety. For flying motorcycles, it is even more complicated because it carries people, the larger the size, the higher the risk of unsafety.
According to Mr. Mau, the issue of licensing flying motorcycles in the form of personal flying vehicles is still a long story, many countries have just stopped in the form of research, testing, recreational activities or in a small area.
“In Vietnam or elsewhere, the potential for personal flying vehicles is huge because of the benefits it brings. However, above all, the safety of vehicles, vehicle users, military and civilian flight safety must be calculated and considered very closely,” said Mr.
Mr. Dinh Viet Thang, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said that some airlines in the world have started to invest in research on personal flying vehicles such as flying motorbikes and flying cars. However, all of them are still in experimental form, not licensed for popular operation.
In Vietnam, personal flying vehicles must register and ask for permission from the management agency. Currently, the department has not received information on registration and licensing of products such as flying motorcycles from domestic or foreign units. In addition to the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, the testing of flying vehicles must also be registered and licensed with the Ministry of Defense such as unmanned aerial vehicles. After that, there will be a council to review and evaluate before allowing production, exploitation and zoning to be allowed to operate.
“This product is likely to be popular in the future because of its usefulness, but it needs a long process to test and evaluate. For example, for an aircraft that has been granted a certificate of eligibility for operation because there is an existing infrastructure such as an airport, management of the flight area, the provisions of the law are clear” – Mr. Thang shared.•
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Infrastructure for flying taxis and flying motorbikes needs 30-50 years
According to automotive expert Nguyen Minh Dong, types such as flying motorbikes and flying taxis are new products and have not been applied much in the world. Currently this model has only been tested in Dubai and some other countries but is also in the research process. Along with that, the regulations related to this type of product are also very strict, currently only testing in well-ventilated areas. It is estimated that Vietnam will need about 30-50 years to achieve the infrastructure for flying taxis and be able to fly experience services such as at the beach, tourist attractions.
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Pilot flying as public transport
Assoc. Prof-Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong said that flying motorbikes can pilot a certain route in the air, ensuring that the range is not entangled with tall buildings, power lines, etc., with suitable routes and altitudes. fit. In the immediate future, it can be viewed as a form of public transport, not personal.
For example, it can be tested as simple as Gia Lam airport to Cao Bang, Sa Pa… and vice versa. Airports of this type do not need long runways, reduce the load of many things and anticipate the development of this form. Investors can apply for tourist destinations such as Ha Long, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc, etc., to design roads in the space of predetermined take-off and landing points, and provide a specific flight plan for passengers to choose from. .
THY Nhung – Quang Huy