Osaka Prefecture will see the introduction of ‘flying cars’ to transport visitors to the 2025 World Exposition in the west of Japan
The Prefectural Government plans for vehicles to transport visitors from the artificial island of Yumeshima, hosting the Osaka Expo, to nearby locations such as Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture and Kobe Airport in neighbouring Hyogo prefecture.
Beautiful views of the Kansai metropolitan area will be on offer, including the modern cityscape of Osaka and the Seto Inland Sea off western Japan, in an initiative that aims to start a transport revolution and increase this mode of transport across Japan.
The vehicles are described as being halfway between a drone and a helicopter, electrically powered and capable of taking off and landing vertically, with manufacturers in Japan, the United States and Europe developing creating vehicles seating up to five people.
What exactly is a ‘flying car’?
In the Prefecture’s “Roadmap for the Air Transport Revolution,” the definition of a “flying car” is an easily recognisable and easy-to-use aircraft mode of transport with the characteristics of being electrically powered, having autonomous flight, with vertical take-off and landing.
Compared to conventional flying vehicles such as aircraft and helicopters, its features make it easier to meet daily and short-distance travel needs, is more environmentally friendly, is quiet, convenient and low cost. The vehicles have the potential to make ultra-short haul “sky transport”, more common, with various uses for the skies over cities being considered.
Possible uses include flying taxis where travellers can use the rooftops of skyscrapers to avoid traffic jams or to use secondary traffic from the airport or terminal stations. It can also be used as a new means of transportation connecting cities such as intercity access and to cut off areas as well as for travelling to sightseeing spots where tourism and leisure transportation is limited.
Paramedics will see significantly reduced arrival times by using emergency flying vehicles, usually impacted by traffic conditions and could be used in combination with air medical helicopters which have higher operating costs. Disaster response will see prompt rescue activities and transportation of supplies when road access is blocked due to disasters such as a typhoon or an earthquake.
There are also hopes for collaboration between the public and private sectors over flying cars which could develop into new business concepts, which will create new value and increase the quality of people’s lives and liveability of towns.
Osaka Prefecture plans to make flying cars a reality for the 2025 Osaka / Kansai Expo and beyond. While there are many hurdles to realising this future transport mode, in the spirit of Osaka’s “yatte minahare” (Osaka dialect for “go for it” or “follow your nature”), the Prefecture will take the opportunity of developing this new mode for transport to bring focus on the energy and attractions of the city and wider region.
References:
https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/attach/43014/00000000/Roadmap%20and%20the%20Action%20Plan.pdf
