“Germany Plans Flying Taxi Test Routes From 2026”
In December, German Transport Minister, Volker Wissing, confirmed his view that drones and air taxis will “revolutionise air mobility”, reports electrive.com. His Ministry presented a new strategy for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which includes test routes for air taxis from 2026.
The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) aims to make the country a leading European region for the development and operation of drones and eVTOLs, after publishing a timetable for AAM that serves as a guideline for operators. This will be implemented in four phases leading up to 2032.
The first test routes are to be set up by 2026, followed by the designation of geographically limited AAM areas two years later. By 2030, these regions will be expanded to include regional transport and finally, nationwide operations are planned by 2032.
The strategy also envisions the establishment of vertiports alongside a pilot qualification program, safety aspects clarified and a legal framework. New route concepts are also planned.
Strategy Papers (In German)
The German Ministry plans to promote innovations in the AAM sector to strengthen the country as a centre of technology. This includes support for research projects and close cooperation with industry and research institutions.
Specifically, the ministry intends to set up AAM real-world laboratories this year dedicated to topics such as the safe integration of eVTOL and Unmanned Aerial Systems into existing transport infrastructures, the creation of the infrastructure required for eVTOL operations and the development of integrated safety systems.

(Credit: Volocopter)
The BMDV also intends to award a contract for a research project to develop the key components for the construction of vertiports in German cities as early as March.
electrive.com writes, “The goal is to promote an attractive investment environment to support the development of AAM in Germany. That includes incentives for companies and investors, as well as the provision of funding. The Ministry even intends to organise an AAM investor conference.”
Wissing is convinced that Advanced Air Mobility is a technology for everyone. He comments in the Strategy Paper, “AAM will not be an elite project for business travellers, but to benefit society as a whole. Especially when cargo drones and eVTOLs can be used in regions that are currently difficult or impossible to reach using conventional means of transport.”
This German Transport Ministry enthusiasm is a puzzle given the recent disinterest from the country’s authorities to financially support their two top eVTOL companies, Volocopter and Lilium. However, it should be mentioned that the state guarantee for Lilium did not fail because of Wissing who had campaigned for it, but because of the parliamentary budget committee.
News Source: https://www.electrive.com/
(Top image: Volker Wissing — Credit: FDP)
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