Flying Cars Hop Slightly Closer With FAA Weight Waiver

JimFive writes "For years we've been waiting for the flying car to arrive. The FAA has made an exemption that moves this one step closer to reality. Terrafugia has been granted a weight limit exemption for a 'Roadable Airplane.' Next up is passing the federal highway safety tests."

Comments

Re:I hate the idea of flying cars

[QuantumG]

Not to disparage your opinion of the average person's flying ability as I'm sure most of us would agree with that, but..

I don't understand where this attitude came from that because you anticipate someone, some day, may crash into your house that you would ban anyone, ever, from having a flying vehicle. I know that's not precisely what you're saying, but I don't understand how you imagine a ban on these vehicles would actually work. For example, if you're suggesting that no-one should be able to fly one of these vehicles without first obtaining a pilot's license then I would say ok, no problem, couldn't agree with you more.. but I don't think you are. I think what you're saying is that you don't want there to be a populous movement to acquire a pilot's license as that will somehow make flying more dangerous. Or, maybe, you're saying that no aircraft should be allowed to fly near your house... but I find that a terribly strange position to take because there's already laws against that..

So, uhhh.. could you maybe clarify what exactly it is you're opposed to and what action you imagine should (or shouldn't) be taken to prevent it?

Re:I hate the idea of flying cars

[MichaelSmith]

Even if everyone got a pilot's license, I don't trust normal people with that kind of responsibility. What a dumb idea. Futuristic mental masturbation, really.

I see your point. Automated aircraft are here now, while automated surface vehicles are a long way off. So maybe the "flying car" when it comes will be largely automated. The pilot will say "take me to X,Y" and the computers will do the rest.

Re:Say what?

[gmuslera]

Probably most of the "waiting" in popular culture was more about the one in Back to the Future, from 1985 (ok, mostly was flying in part II, in 1989), than anything else. It even had a specific date for having them, at 2015. But apparently we are a bit far away from personal, portable fussion reactors (that can be feed with just garbage), antigrav devices and, well, time machines, in less than 5 years, but i still don't lose hope. A flying DeLorean can still land on Cyberdyne 20 years ago and we would have them by now (of course, that could end being a bad nightmare too, like being all killed by antigrav robots or blue butterflies)