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eVTOLs could help boost remote communities in Canada, report says

Growing support for the launch of air taxi services could help boost remote communities in Canada with more people considering moving to remote areas if access conditions improve, a new report from Horizon Aircraft says.

According to Horizon – which is a Lindsay, Ont.-based developer of hybrid electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial vehicles – government data shows roughly one in nine Canadians are classed as living in remote areas, which accounts for 74.6 per cent of the Canadian landmass, and there is growing concern about the long-term future of these remote communities.

But the launch of air taxi services could play a vital role in revitalizing rural communities, Horizon said.

The firm’s research, which included the views of people living in remote communities, found two out of three (66 per cent) Canadians would welcome the use of air taxis to address negative issues associated with living in remote communities such as poor access to transport, isolation, and unreliable supplies of critical goods and medical supplies.

“Canadians in general are very receptive to the idea of air taxis or eVTOLs – 60 per cent said they would be happy to travel in a regulatory agency approved air taxi and nearly half (48 per cent) would be happy to use them as soon as they are commercially operational,” Horizon said. “Around 48 per cent would be happy to fly in eVTOLs in other countries outside Canada.”

Horizon says its research shows that the introduction of air taxis or eVTOLs could increase interest in Canada to moving to more remote areas – 45 per cent may consider moving if eVTOLs were more readily available to enable travel and ensure a strong supply chain.

“Properly designed eVTOLs could have multiple uses including urban transport, air ambulances, cargo transport, military and wildfire service use but in Canada they are particularly suited to addressing the issues faced by people living in remote communities,” said Horizon CEO Brandon Robinson. “It’s interesting to see that so many Canadians would consider moving to more remote areas if they could rely on safe and secure air taxi services.”

Horizon is developing the Cavorite X7 eVTOL, which would carry six passengers plus a pilot, travel at an estimated maximum speed of 250 miles per hour, and have a range of up to 500 miles with fuel reserves. The aircraft would have a gross weight of an estimated 5,500 pounds with a projected useful load of 1,500 pounds. The company believes the proposed aircraft would also be attractive for regional air mobility – moving people and cargo 50 to 500 miles.