It is not tomorrow the day before that we will board an electric flying taxi to get around. The fact remains that Quebec has all the assets to become the “nerve center” of this sector which interests a growing number of companies, believes the specialist in flight simulators and training CAE.
Sign of the interest of the Quebec multinational in the location of vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which can transport a small number of people or objects: it will devote part of its budget of 1 billion over five years to finance innovation projects.
“We have everything we need in Montreal to create a nerve center specializing in these aircraft […] with several companies, our universities, the National School of Aerotechnics and the School of Aerospace Trades, ”said CAE President and CEO, Marc Parent, on Monday, addressing an audience of business people brought together by the Canadian Club of Montreal.
To finance its ambitions, the company established in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent received, last July, a combined financial support of 340 million from Quebec and Ottawa.
Mr. Parent believes that this market combines the objectives of governments to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the movement of goods and passengers in “busy cities.”
However, there are still many steps to be taken for the projects that have been publicly presented so far. In addition, regulatory issues will also have to be resolved, since we are talking about devices that wish to use airspace to circulate, often at low altitude.
“We are already working closely with the regulatory bodies to ensure that this new area is as safe as the whole of air transport,” said the head of CAE, who was not available to answer questions from the media. after his speech.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, THE PRESS
CAE executive Marc Parent believes that Quebec can become a leader in the electric flying taxi industry.
During his speech, the one who was appointed head of CAE in 2009 essentially returned to the turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategy of the company, which decided to go on the offensive by making nine acquisitions to increase its size and diversify.
Already an interest
The Quebec company has already taken its first steps in this new niche by concluding an agreement with the German company Volocopter last July to train the pilots of its VoloCity electric air taxi, which can accommodate a pilot and a passenger. Thales Canada has also partnered with Bell Textron Canada.
As recently as September, it was Airbus’ turn to present the CityAirbus, developed in partnership with Siemens. The first flight of the device is scheduled for 2023. The American company Jaunt Air Mobility, which is also working on an aircraft, has come to Quebec.
It is currently difficult to get an idea of the size of this potential market. In 2018, a study carried out by the American bank Morgan Stanley and cited by several specialized publications estimated it at 1,500 billion US.
Is Mr. Parent’s wish realistic? Absolutely, believes Mehran Ebrahimi, professor at UQAM and director of the International Observatory of Aeronautics and Civil Aviation.
“We have all the elements of the puzzle that can be put in place,” said the expert during a telephone interview. This kind of call from Mr. Parent is to launch the concept. ”
Quebec already enjoys an enviable reputation in the aeronautics and artificial intelligence sectors, which are complementary for certain types of aircraft – autonomous or remotely piloted.
Mr. Ebrahimi compared the ideas publicly presented to what is sometimes seen at major auto shows.
“At each show, there are always concepts,” he analyzes. Some will never become role models. But it does give an idea where the technology is heading. ”
With regard to electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, companies are trying, for the moment, to “position themselves” so as not to fall behind.