Heerenveen, March 11, 2019 - Will the flying car become an important part of the mobility solution for our cities? Antea Group is confident that it will. On March 11, the engineering firm and consultancy signed a global partnership agreement with PAL-V, manufacturer of the world’s first flying car. The company, which operates worldwide, wants to take the flying car to the next level with PAL-V by developing various facilities to make this new form of mobility possible.

Major Impact

The PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) is a compact, two-seater gyroplane that can travel by road or by air. A gyroplane or autogyro is the safest and simplest form of flying that exists. Flying is going to become more common in the future, and this will have a major impact on infrastructure, public space, and real estate in cities, which are Antea Group’s domain. Director of the urban planning & water business lines, Henri Deelstra: “Together with PAL-V, we are using our knowledge and our network to develop new products, facilities, and infrastructures. This includes the licensing, design and construction of miniature airports or home parking facilities.”

PAL-V CEO, Robert Dingemanse: “Personal flying mobility starts now, with a flying car that enables you to drive in the city and fly outside it. In the future, we will also have air taxis that fly us from platform to platform within the city. Flying is going to become much more commonplace in the coming decades.”

First vehicles already sold

PAL-V completed the first successful test flights with the flying car in 2012. The first model, the PAL-V Liberty, is set to be granted a license by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2020, after which the vehicle can be both driven and flown throughout Europe and in many other countries outside it. The PAL-V will therefore be operational from 2020; the first in the world. A number of PAL-Vs have already been sold in the Netherlands. Deelstra: "Several municipalities have already shown interest in a pilot with the flying car. In addition, we are currently working with various authorities to organize a challenge to use the PAL-V in their work.” 

Solution to the traffic problem

The healthy & livable city of the future is one of Antea Group’s themes. Deelstra: “By 2050, 68% of the world’s population will probably be living in urban areas. We believe the flying car will be a game changer in interurban mobility, and possibly an important part of the solution to traffic congestion. By working with PAL-V to develop good preconditions and facilities for the flying car, we want to accelerate the development of personal air mobility and make it interesting for the general public.”

In The Netherlands in june

The PAL-V Pioneer Edition was presented at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5, 2019. Later this year, PAL-V and Antea Group can be seen together at the Antea Group’s stand at the PROVADA real estate fair in Amsterdam.