Tesla Shows Flying Roadster 2 Prototype, but Legal Flight Looks Complicated
Tesla demonstrated a version of its Roadster 2 sports car in Texas that lifted off for a few dozen feet with no one aboard. Aviation experts say operating such a vehicle would require extensive government approvals.
Electric carmaker Tesla on Thursday showed a version of its new Roadster 2 sports car at SpaceX's rocket development testing facility in McGregor, Texas. With an awkward, jerking motion, the vehicle flew roughly a few dozen feet. It has no announced price, though it is likely to be very expensive, and production is slated for 2028. The demo revives the question of whether a privately owned flying car could ever be legally used.
No person was aboard during the demonstration. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said this was to make sure nobody was killed. He also acknowledged he was not sure the vehicle was necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, adding that it is not necessarily a safety-optimized car.
Regulatory hurdles
Scott Miller, an airline pilot and lecturer in the Aviation and Technology program at San José State University, notes that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has jurisdiction over any machine that leaves the surface of the earth. In his view, the vehicle will introduce a whole set of regulatory issues.
Michael McCormick, a former FAA official who now heads the Air Traffic Management program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, says any flying vehicle weighing more than about 250 pounds would need FAA approval and clearance to operate in national airspace. He predicts certification could take at least a year. A standard driver's license would not be enough, and an owner would likely need a recreational aviation license.
Taking off and landing would raise further problems. Most states require aircraft to depart from airports or designated helipads, while launching from a road would fall under state or local rules. Miller suggests drivers might only be able to operate the vehicle on a large private piece of land.
Other flying cars
The FAA is also working on rules and pilot projects for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These use several small electric motors and propellers to carry up to four passengers between 20 and 150 miles. The Trump administration this year launched a limited three-year pilot project allowing companies to test the technology in several states.
Miller also points to a physics-based contradiction: weight makes a car safe and durable on roads, but weight is the enemy of an airplane. Still, he was impressed by the demo and said that if the car reaches production, it would be a truly impressive engineering and production feat.
