It takes off vertically, flies with electricity and at a not too high altitude: what became known as the “flying taxi” is no longer a vision of science fiction, but is becoming have already been specifically developed by several companies – and could soon reach Unterallgäu. A vertical take-off and landing “aircraft”, powered by electricity, is intended to transport patients in the region around Memmingen and partially replace the emergency ambulance. These plans were presented on Monday afternoon at Memmingen City Council.
Airborne emergency care
In the case of urgent diagnoses such as a heart attack or stroke, patients must reach the hospital faster with the aircraft called “eResCopter” than on the road. As the air taxi is equipped as an emergency ambulance, it should be possible to provide initial emergency care.
The electrically powered vertical takeoff aircraft is also intended for transport between future-level hospitals in accordance with the planned hospital reform to assume. For example, patients from a primary care clinic could be flown to a specialty clinic for treatment. These transports would increase in the future due to the upcoming “centralization of the hospital landscape,” said Krystian Pracz of the DRF Air Rescue Foundation.
Test flights from 2025
Unmanned test flight operations are scheduled to begin in 2025, with approval for general flight operations expected in 2029. Then, the eResCopter – faster than an emergency ambulance and cheaper than a helicopter – will complement the rescue network and will thus improve medical care in rural areas.
A big advantage over helicopters is the accompanied transport of accident victims, for example as in an ambulance, said Rudolf Schwarz, CEO of “eResCopter” manufacturer IABG. Furthermore, the acquisition price is around a third of the cost of a helicopter, which costs between ten and twelve million euros.
At the start of the project, Mayor Jan Rothenbacher (SPD), District Administrator Alex Eder (FW), Member of the Memmingen State Parliament and former Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) as well as representatives from DRF Air Rescue Foundation and the manufacturer of the “eResCopter”, eRC-System GmbH from Ottobrunn, signed a corresponding declaration of intent.