Pioneering Flight: Air Taxi and Drones Share the Skies Over Benidorm
Today marks a first in Europe: an air taxi and multiple drones will operate simultaneously in an urban environment for the first time. The demonstration, part of the European U-ELCOME project, takes place at Poniente Beach, next to the Club Náutico in Benidorm. The goal of the flight event is to showcase how U-space could play a role in managing low-altitude air traffic in the future.
U-space and Urban Air Mobility
During the demonstration, an emergency situation in a restricted area will be simulated. This will take place within a U-space air traffic management system for drones. An air taxi—a two-seater EH216-S eVTOL weighing 600 kg, specifically designed for passenger transport—will operate alongside twelve drones. These drones will be visible within the European U-space system and will carry out tasks such as rescue operations, surveillance, and cargo delivery.
U-ELCOME is a European collaboration involving 51 partners from Spain, France, and Italy. The project focuses on the integration and validation of the first U-space services in Spain and plays a key role in the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the airspace.
Demonstration and Program
The event begins with a presentation on the project and the developments of U-space in Benidorm. This will be followed by the signing of a cooperation agreement between the municipality of Benidorm and eVTOL manufacturer EHang. Afterward, the demonstration will commence, showcasing the capabilities of the air taxi and drones in a controlled urban environment.
The organizers emphasize that this demonstration is an important step toward safe and efficient urban air mobility. “This groundbreaking demonstration in Europe not only highlights innovative technologies but also underscores the possibilities and feasibility of safe urban air mobility,” the project partners stated.
Previous U-space Test
The demonstration in Benidorm is reminiscent of a similar test conducted under the AMU-LED project in the Netherlands in August 2022. There, too, the plan was to have the EHang air taxi fly alongside other drones and airspace users. However, in the end, the EH216 was not granted permission to take off by the authorities, preventing the test from being fully executed.
