According to a report, Tesla’s upcoming “flying” Roadster might necessitate drivers to obtain a pilot’s license.
This extraordinary vehicle is capable of taking to the air and accelerating to 60 mph in less than a second, but it may be subject to some unconventional regulations, as Wired highlighted on Friday.
In a remarkable demonstration in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday, the Roadster was observed navigating upside down on a spiraling ramp via a suction mechanism, executing aerial maneuvers before landing safely — an event that Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, dubbed a “flying” car.
Tesla has announced that production won’t commence until 2028, and securing one of these vehicles will require a $50,000 deposit, along with an exclusive invitation from the company.
Furthermore, a pilot’s license might be necessary.
This is likely due to the Roadster falling under the purview of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates all aircraft in the national airspace, implying that future drivers would need to acquire specific licenses, as former FAA official Michael McCormick mentioned in the report.
Scott Miller, an aviation instructor at San José State University, supported this, stating, “The [FAA] oversees any machine that leaves the earth’s surface.”
He noted that this vehicle would bring about numerous regulatory challenges.
According to McCormick, the FAA review can take “at least a year.”
During the showcase, the Roadster utilized cold gas thrusters akin to those found on rockets, hovering approximately 12 feet off the ground after descending from the ramp.
The vehicle even soared over a lineup of cars, among various other stunts.
The unmanned Roadster featured a steer-by-wire system, as Musk remarked that they “didn’t want to kill anyone.”
The tech mogul, who reportedly holds a pilot’s license himself, expressed satisfaction after the demo, stating on X, “Turns out the future does have flying cars.”
The landscape for tech innovation is increasingly expanding into the skies.
Some air taxis are nearing the end of the FAA regulatory process, while lawmakers are pushing for a review of Amazon’s delivery drones.
The FAA and Tesla have yet to respond to requests for comment.
