The seemingly futuristic concept of "airtaxis" transporting people across cities came closer to reality on Thursday when an unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft successfully completed a flight across a stretch of the Yangtze River in east China's Nanjing.
The 25-kilometer test flight lasted around 10 minutes and marked the first time an eVTOL aircraft heavier than one ton has flown across the Yangtze River, China's longest waterway.
The sleek-looking eVTOL aircraft boasts a wingspan of 15 meters, a fuselage length of 11 meters, and a height of around 3.5 meters. Capable of accommodating up to five passengers, it has a maximum carrying capacity of nearly 500 kilograms.
It has been developed by a Shanghai-based start-up named AutoFlight, who say that their design could come become a viable and affordable transportation option for tourists or for commuters looking to beat the city traffic.
"We can offer sightseeing experiences along the Yangtze River and provide air transportation. This would take only one-fifth or even one-tenth of the time that ground transportation takes, and the ticket may be less than six yuan (less than a dollar) after its large-scale application in the future," said Xie Jia, senior vice president of AutoFlight.
China has identified development of the so-called "low-altitude economy" as a key task for fostering new growth in 2024. The city of Nanjing has been at the forefront of this push, and opened up a civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test zone back in 2020, with over 24,000 test flights taking place there by the end of last year.
Officials say Thursday's successful trial will give another boost to the fast-developing industry as it continually aspires to hit new heights.
"This marks a solid step forward for Nanjing City in exploring the low-altitude economy, and a bold rehearsal for the future transportation mode of our city. It is of great significance for expanding low altitude tourism, urban commuting, emergency rescue, logistics distribution and other scenarios in the future," said Shi Shan, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Pukou Hi-Tech Zone in Nanjing
China's eVTOL industry grew by 77.3 percent last year to hit 980 million yuan (over 135 million dollars), while its market scale is expected to soar to a staggering 9.5 billion yuan (over 1.3 billion U.S. dollars) by 2026, according to a report released by market research firm CCID Consulting.
'Airtaxi' concept closer to reality as eVTOL aircraft completes test flight across Yangtze River
'Airtaxi' concept closer to reality as eVTOL aircraft completes test flight across Yangtze River
Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.
The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.
The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.
Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.
"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.
"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.
He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.
"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.
"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.
"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.
Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires
