Air taxis, an innovative mode of urban air transportation, are gaining global attention, including in Indonesia. A major initiative is introducing air taxi services in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN).
Using multicopter systems, these environmentally friendly air taxis offer an efficient and sustainable alternative to alleviate traffic congestion, especially in major cities.
Dr. Ikaputra, Head of UGM’s Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), said developing air taxis in Indonesia must surpass technological advancements.
It requires thorough regulation preparation and supporting infrastructure. Collaborations with international companies, such as Volocopter, are critical to ensuring technology adoption aligns with global standards.
Additionally, the government must ensure that air taxis are accessible to the broader population, not just the elite.
“The development of air taxis will inevitably face challenges, such as providing vertical landing platforms (vertiports) in densely populated urban areas,” Dr. Ikaputra explained during a webinar titled “The Sky as the New Highway: Air Taxis and Their Development in Indonesia” held at Pustral UGM on Wednesday (Dec. 4).
Dr. Ikaputra emphasized the need for widespread public awareness and integrated aviation safety regulations to support the adoption of this new technology.
“This remains a significant challenge. Despite the potential hurdles, air taxis are poised to revolutionize Indonesia’s transportation system,” he added.
Beyond addressing traffic issues, air taxi technology could provide access to remote areas that are currently inaccessible. Its success depends on strong government, private sector, and society collaboration.
“This webinar’s theme is highly relevant to the challenges of modern transportation transformation. Air taxis not only offer solutions for urban traffic congestion but also open up significant opportunities for efficient, eco-friendly transportation, supporting the development of remote regions like IKN,” Dr. Ikaputra remarked.
The webinar featured key speakers, including Professor Gesang Nugroho from UGM’s Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) and M. Rizal Lubis, Flight Navigation Inspector at the Directorate of Flight Navigation, Ministry of Transportation.
In his presentation, Professor Gesang Nugroho highlighted the urgent need for passenger drones due to increasing traffic congestion, the inaccessibility of remote areas, and emergency needs like ambulances often trapped in traffic.
“Passenger drones, or Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs), are autonomous flying vehicles designed to transport passengers. They can also be used for cargo delivery and aerial monitoring,” he explained.
He noted that while passenger drones represent a promising future for efficient and eco-friendly transport, Indonesia currently lacks specific regulations for their operation.
“Urban airspace management and regulations for autonomous flights need to be developed to ensure safe AAV operations in Indonesia. We must also address potential threats to drone control systems and cybersecurity issues,” Professor Nugroho added.
Despite these challenges, the professor sees promising prospects for air taxi development. Benefits include reducing traffic congestion, promoting electric-based environmentally friendly transportation, and providing fast, convenient transport options.
“It will also stimulate economic opportunities, such as creating industries in air mobility technology, infrastructure, and jobs like drone technicians and software developers,” he remarked.
He also highlighted air taxis’ potential to boost tourism and provide transportation solutions for remote areas.
Rizal Lubis echoed these views, emphasizing the growing importance of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Indonesia. These terms refer to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications, with UAM focusing on urban environments.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DJPU) is drafting regulations to accommodate this technological advancement, including operational guidelines and safety standards for integrating UAVs into the national aviation system.
“To support AAM development, DJPU focuses on regulatory frameworks, safety management, and infrastructure development,” Lubis stated.
He highlighted initiatives like establishing a testing environment (sandbox) for pilot projects to evaluate new technologies.
Since August 2024, several activities have supported air taxi development, including pilot project site selection on Aug. 26, stakeholder focus group discussions on Aug. 30, site surveys on Sept. 7, regulation drafting for the sandbox on Sept. 26, and public hearings and project visits on Oct. 25. These efforts will continue to expand in the future.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photo: Berca Hardayaperkasa