China eyes CityAirbus, with test flight planned for this year

Sometime toward the end of this year, Airbus Helicopters will test-fly what it calls the CityAirbus, a multi-passenger, self-piloted eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle designed for urban air transportation.

Battery-powered, the City-Airbus will be able to take off vertically and land just about anywhere in an urban environment. According to its developers, it will go a long way to easing city traffic congestion.

It is designed to carry up to four passengers over congested megacities to important destinations such as airports or railway stations in a fast, affordable and environmentally friendly way.