Uber To Start Testing Flying Cabs In 3 Years

Travis Kalanick has proven before that he is willing to bet on new transportation technology to propel his company to new heights. His bullish method of ramming self-driving Uber cabs down the public’s throat without an official permit is a good example of this. As such, the company’s announcement that it will start testing flying cabs in a few years is both unsurprising and a little alarming.

As Slashgear reports, Uber has been mulling over the idea of a flying cab for a long time. A company executive even hinted at it last September. Thanks to emerging examples of companies with flying vehicles that could be ready for the market in the near future, it was only to be expected that Uber would jump at the chance to offer it to its customers.

The details are still scarce at the moment, but the company did confirm that the testing grounds would either be held in Dallas-Forth Worth or in Dubai. Uber is also considering vehicles with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities, which makes sense since these types of flying cars wouldn’t necessarily need a runway to function. Heck, they could even potentially land on parking lots.

In any case, Uber will be partnering with other companies in order to get the project off the ground, but excited passengers shouldn’t expect anything concrete for at least three years. While there are examples of flying personal transports available right now, they are few in number and are extremely expensive.

This didn’t stop the company from overpromising during a conference in Texas, however, when it said that it will demonstrate its flying cab technology in 2020, The Verge reports. On the other hand, it’s worth noting that some of the companies that will be working with Uber on its flying cab ambitions include veteran VTOL craft creator Bell Helicopters. At least, its CEO Mitch Snyder is offering some tempered statements.

“We’re going to provide safe vehicles going forward,” Snyder said. “We’re going to work with Uber. We’re going to collaborate with them. It’s an exciting opportunity.”