Flying Taxi Trials to Start in Nusantara in June, Says Authority

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority Bambang Susantono said that the trial of the flying taxi in IKN in East Kalimantan is set to be carried out in June 2024. He said that the urban mobility vehicle, which will be showcased in the new capital during the Independence Day ceremony, had arrived in Balikpapan on Thursday, May 9.

“We will open it (the cargo of the flying taxi) next week to assemble it and then test it,” Bambang said in Samarinda on Wednesday, May 29 as quoted from an official statement.

The optionally piloted personal/passenger air vehicle (OPPAV) flying taxi is a vehicle developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and Hyundai Motors Company (HMC). 

At present, the vehicles that were shipped in several pallets are being stored at Semayang Port, Balikpapan. Meanwhile, the vehicle battery is in Jakarta and will arrive in Samarinda on June 6.

Bambang said that the pallet opening and inspection would be carried out by Hyundai, East Kalimantan Customs and Excise, and the IKN Authority at Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Airport (APT) Pranoto Samarinda at the beginning of next month. This opening marks the beginning of the temporary import permit process.

“There will also be an evaluation of the performance, a technical evaluation.  I hope our academic colleagues can be involved [in the process],” he added.

Mohammed Ali Berawi, Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation at the IKN Authority, confirmed that the inspection and testing will be carried out as planned. He emphasized that the assembly and inspections will begin in early June, and then proceed with flight trials in July 2024, followed by flight trials in July 2024, ahead of Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations in August.

“The trials will be conducted for a full month at APT Pranoto Samarinda Airport and through a series of tests and feasibility studies,” Ali explained.

Once the KARI trial is completed, he added, Hyundai plans to develop a business scheme through Supernal, a U.S. subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group that develops urban air mobility aircraft. He said that this development will be commercialized later and continue with the development of autonomous flight technology.

“We also hope that with the formation of a technical team between Hyundai and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), we can make massive technological development for this industry in the future,” Ali concluded.

RIRI RAHAYU

Editor's Choice: Indonesia Expects Autonomous Rail Transit Trial in New Capital Nusantara This August

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News