French media reports that plans to launch Volocopter air taxi services in time for the Olympic Games next year in Paris have met with almost unanimous opposition from the cities local authorities.
Council officials spoke out against the plans when they deliberated the subject at Paris City Hall on November 14.
According to the LocalFr: “Dan Lert, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of ecological transition, denounced the project as “a totally useless and hyper-polluting gadget for a few ultra-privileged people in a hurry.” The elected officials called into question noise and visual pollution, as well as the risk to the safety of passengers and Parisians alike. Councillor Florian Sitbon (Socialist Party) denounced an “absurd” project endorsed by the state and the Ile-de-France region. “To gain a few minutes for a few wealthy people in a hurry, ignorant and contemptuous of the climate emergency, we would pollute the atmosphere, we would destroy the sound environment,” he said.
“The mayor of the 15th arrondissement, Philippe Goujon, reiterated his ambition to permanently close the Issy-les-Moulineaux heliport. As part of this environmental assessment, he delivered a negative opinion to the Council of Paris on the creation of a take-off and landing platform that would be on the quay of the Port of Austerlitz.”
“The Autorité environnementale (AE), France’s independent environmental authority, had already expressed its reservations. In September, they deemed the impact study “incomplete” for the future experimental base of flying taxis planned on the Seine, known as the “vertiport”.The AE also highlighted the energy consumption of these vehicles, which is up to 30 times higher than that of a train.”
The French government’s transport department will make a final go/no go decision on the plans.
For more information
https://www.thelocal.fr/20231115/pariss-olympic-flying-taxi-plans-hit-city-council-setback
https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/Flying-taxis-for-Paris-2024-Olympics-meet-council-opposition
