Airbus Flying Taxi Gets Single-Stick Pilot Control

Airbus has created new pilot controls for its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) flying taxi prototype.

A single piloting stick was used to perform all aircraft maneuvers, including takeoff, acceleration, climb, turn and approach.

Using the single stick, the pilot could perform all maneuvers: take-off & landing, climb, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn, and approach.

The new controls are intended to be used in the CityAirbus NextGen, an all-electric, four-seat eVTOL prototype of Airbus.

“From the start, we designed this system considering every certification parameter in mind as it will be a big step forward in validating the design of our urban air mobility eVTOL CityAirbus NextGen,” said Tomasz Krysinski, head of Research and Innovation at Airbus Helicopters. “The advantage of an electric flight control system is enormous, especially when it comes to reducing pilot workload and ultimately enhancing mission safety. It is also a great example of how our demonstrators are used to mature the techno-bricks necessary to prepare the future of vertical flight.” 

The Airbus vehicle is being designed to transport passengers between locations in urban and suburban environments.

Airbus has developed two electric aerial vehicles (EAV), CityAirbus and Vahana.

Related:Airbus Heads Up Flying Taxi Initiative

The electric vehicle has fixed wings, a V-shaped tail and eight electric-powered propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system.

A demonstrator version of the aircraft was tested in more than 240 flight and ground tests and achieved the highest multicopter takeoff weight in 2021.

The CityAirbus demonstrator was instrumental in helping Airbus explore full electrification for vertical flight and was one of the first critical steppingstones towards developing the CityAirbus NextGen, according to the company.

The Airbus eVTOL is being designed for passenger transport, medical services or ecotourism missions.

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