The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation expressed lack of confidence in the safety of the air taxi

The Russian Ministry of Transport has expressed a lack of confidence in the safety of an unmanned aerial taxi in its current form, while announcing tests of such technologies. This was announced on November 19 by the head of the department, Andrey Nikitin, at the Transport of Russia forum.

"We are not sure yet that it is safe. But I think that in the next year or two we will start testing such technologies, so far without people, of course," TASS quoted him as saying.

According to Nikitin, the Ministry of Transport plans to test the technology of movement in the air soon, while working out the federal aviation regulations.

It is noted that the agency is currently cooperating with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China on the development of domestic air taxis.

They drive themselves: driverless cars may appear on Russian roads

Russia to expand experiment on operation of self-driving cars

Earlier, on November 12, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced the launch of the first unmanned taxi with a test driver in the cabin in 2026 in Moscow. It was noted that such technologies can only be used after testing and provided they are safe for citizens.

Prior to that, on September 3, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin took part in the launch of passenger traffic of Russia's first unmanned tram following route No. 10 of the Shchukinskaya metro station – Kulakova Street in the north-west of the capital. The mayor noted that there will be 15 unmanned trams in 2026.

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