Uber Air may launch flying taxis in Melbourne and Sydney

FLYING taxis could be soaring over the skies of Melbourne soon, after ride sharing giant Uber put Australia in the box seat to trial its congestion-busting aerial passenger service.

FLYING taxis could be soaring over the skies of Melbourne within five years after ride sharing giant Uber put Australia in the box seat to trial its congestion-busting aerial passenger service.

Executives this week announced Sydney and Melbourne were on a global shortlist for the roll out of its world-leading UberAir project which would see commuters affordably flying around congested cities from rooftop to rooftop.

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Trials are set to begin in cities by 2020 and the first commercial trips for passengers are expected to start in 2023.

The company plans to service the aerial network with its own fleet of small electric helicopters that travel more than 200km/h, cruise about 300m above the ground and travel almost 100km in a single charge.

Trials are set to begin in cities by 2020 and the first commercial trips for passengers are expected to start in 2023.

Los Angeles and Dallas have already been selected as launch cities but the ride-sharing giant is looking Third International city and has narrowed its search down to Australia, Japan, France, Brazil and India.

It comes as work ramps up on a project to send UberEats deliveries to customers on flying drones within the next few years.

“Australia is a really important market for us overall,” Uber aviation programs head Eric Allison told the Herald Sun.

“It’s pretty realistic to think we could see extensive air networks deployed in cities around the world … It is closer than a lot of people think.

Los Angeles and Dallas have already been selected as launch cities for Uber Air.

Uber is looking for a Third International city to launch Uber Air and has narrowed its searchto Australia, Japan, France, Brazil and India.

“This is not just a sci-fi fantasy.”

Uber executives have already met with local policymakers to discuss bringing flying taxis to Melbourne and are working with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority on regulations around the technology.

The company is not seeking tax breaks from countries but has indicated it would prioritise cities with a sophisticated electrical grid and a large airport that has congestion issues.

Mr Allison said cities struggling with surging populations and traffic snarls could be transformed by the service.

“If you are able to move more freely in congested areas, where you think about living is a little bit different,” he said.

“We need a fundamental shift in urban mobility if we want to keep up with the growth that’s happening that’s happening in our cities.”

Services would initially be flown by trained pilots but would eventually become automated as the technology advances.

“By 2031 Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, which generate 80 per cent of Australia’s GDP, will need to accommodate 5.9 million more people,” Uber chief operating officer Barney Harford said.

“If left unaddressed traffic congestion could cost the nation more than $50 billion a year in lost productivity

“We see the price (of Uber Air) falling so low that it will be below the cost of car ownership.”

Mr Hardford said Melbourne was now one of the world’s biggest markets for Uber Eats deliveries, with researchers at the company now developing drones to deliver meals through the air.

Uber Air won’t be “just a sci-fi fantasy”.

The Herald Sun attended the Uber Elevate Asia Pacific Expo as the guest of Uber.