The skies over Latin America’s largest city are set to witness a futuristic aerospace revolution after the Brazilian airline Gol reached an agreement that could see it transport regular passengers around São Paulo in hundreds of low-cost zero-emission electric air taxis.
Dómhnal Slattery, chief executive of the Dublin-based firm Avolon, which will provide the aircraft to Gol and recently placed an order for 500 of the aircraft from their British manufacturer, admitted helicopters were the “kingdom of the wealthiest”.
But the Avolon boss claimed the introduction of VA-X4 eVTOLs (electric vertical(垂直的) takeoff and landing) aircraft to São Paulo would be a gamechanger for regular passengers once the taxis, which look like a futuristic cross between a helicopter and a glider, were delivered in late 2024 or 2025.
“Our basic estimate (估计) at the moment is that the operating cost here for this aircraft will be equal to $1 per passenger over a 25-mile trip,” Slattery told the Financial Times. “Which is almost equal to an Uber ride.”
Few cities are crying out for such a revolution more than São Paulo, a sprawling metropolis with more than 12 million citizens and choked by a fleet of 8.6m vehicles.
In the late 1990s, the congestion (拥塞) became so bad in what is now the world’s fifth biggest city after Tokyo, Delhi, Seoul and Shanghai that authorities were forced to introduce a number plate rotation (循环) system for vehicles.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, the head of the British aerospace manufacturer that produces the aircraft, Vertical Aerospace, said the flying taxis would be ideal for Brazil’s biggest city and will “transform how we travel around high population density cities that are crowded with traffic”.
The Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace was founded in 2016 and promises to pioneer “a new era in vertical transport”.
“We’ll be looking to Asia after São Paulo,” Avolon’s chief commercial officer, Paul Geaney, told Reuters.
12. What did Dómhnal Slattery think of helicopters?
A.They could be afforded by all. |
B.They could be mostly used by the rich. |
C.They provided convenience for travellers. |
D.They showed the owners’ social status. |
13. What is the advantage of electric air taxis?
A.Eco-friendliness. | B.Traditional design. |
C.Zero noise. | D.Free delivery. |
14. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A.The flying taxis will be ideal for Brazil’s biggest city. |
B.More cities are eager for electric air taxis than São Paulo. |
C.The Avolon will enter the Asian transportation market soon. |
D.Travelling by VA-X4 eVTOLs can be more convenient but more expensive than by Uber. |
15. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?
A.Uber Ride—a futuristic aerospace revolution |
B.Advanced vertical aircrafts ordered by the Avolon Company |
C.VA-X4 eVTOLs—a lifesaver for high population density cities |
D.Electric air taxis to make their first appearance in Brazil’s most congested city |