What about safety?


The PAL-V One is being developed using the latest technology from the aerospace and automotive industry. In the air, the underlying gyroplane technology guarantees a stable-flying platform that supports safe landing even in the event of total power failure. On the road, the PAL-V has the excitement of a motorcycle while offering enhanced safety because the driver is in an enclosed compartment. The PAL-V One will be certified using the EASA (Europe) and FAR (USA) standards.


Why is the gyroplane concept chosen?


Advantages (compared to a conventional airplane):

  • Contrary to fixed wing aeroplanes it cannot stall: Safe!
  • In turbulent air it still flies steady as a rock due to its high rotor speed
  • Because a gyroplane can fly so slow it needs very little space to land and can have a take-off distance from 50 – 100 m
  • Wide speed range, with a low minimum speed (from 50 km/h up to 180 km/h)

Disadvantages (compared to a conventional airplane)

  1. A gyroplane has higher drag, so maximum speed and range are lower.

A gyroplane costs only about 10% as much to own and operate as a helicopter yet can accomplish 90% of what a helicopter can do. Unlike a helicopter however, a gyroplane cannot hover, take off or land vertically.


What happens when more PAL-V’s take to the sky?


As in the early days of automotive transportation, when there were no stop signs, no traffic rules and no organized roads with on- and off ramps, rules and regulations other than those currently in place under ICAO regulations will not hinder the first PAL-V’s. The moment the PAL-V becomes a huge success and starts to see competitors take to the sky as well, a more structured use of airways is called for. The necessary technology to accomplish this is already available and uses technology similar to those in GPS-based car navigation systems(2). This Highways In The Sky (HITS) programme is developed by NASA and enables flying vehicles to follow virtual corridors, complete with on- and off ramps. If necessary this system can be complimented by omni-directional radar to prevent collisions. (Since airplanes use 3D space instead of the (almost-) 1D space (roads) that cars have to use, it is expected that it will take quite some time until the PAL-V density in the sky hits any significant level.)


Is it possible to take off and land everywhere?


No. Apart from the fact that this is not allowed by law, the PAL-V needs a space measuring about 200 by 30 meters without surrounding obstacles to take off and land. In practice all – small – airports, aerodromes, glider sites and/or ultralight airfields will suffice. The PAL-V can operate from either concrete or grass airstrips. As the PAL-V popularity increases, it is expected that more and more small uncontrolled airstrips will be created.


Do I need a license to fly the PAL-V?


Yes, you certainly need a license to fly. To be able to operate an aeroplane you’ll need some basic understanding of Navigation, Instruments, Meteorology, Aerodynamics and Performance. All aircraft need training and the PAL-V is – for this part only! – no exception. Although every effort is taken to make sure that the PAL-V will be easy to control, you’ll need practical training to operate this rotorcraft safely. To acquire a license you need to pass a theoretical exam (Recreational Pilot License or RPL or PPL) and a reasonable amount of training, with an instructor and as single pilot (solo), to learn to fly a gyroplane. The gyroplane license can be obtained with 20 to 40 hours of training, depending on skill and talent, regulations per country and previous aviation experience. In Europe, to acquire the PPL (or RPL) you’ll need to pass a medical check as well (Medical Certificate Class II). The cost of training for a license will vary in each country but generally approx. 5000 EUR should be enough to get you the license.


Will such a “flying car” receive certification for road and sky?


The majority of the effort poured into the project so far has been aimed at determining the feasibility of the PAL-V achieving certification. The results confirmed that certification is feasible. For flying CS-27 (Europe) and FAR-27 (USA) are the standards on which the Type Certificate will be based. For driving the road legislation directives of the European Commission and NHTSA standards are used. The PAL-V will be built to meet these standards without exemptions.


How much does it cost to own a PAL-V?


By using standard components and parts both the purchasing price and the maintenance costs can be kept down. Commercial prices will be established depending, on volume and competition a year before market launch in 2011. “Regular” maintenance companies can do maintenance, however for aircraft critical parts, like the engine, rotor and propeller, maintenance needs to be done by an aircraft mechanic. The engine takes regular petrol and the PAL-V One can be filled up at a gas station. Thanks to the low weight the road tax will be quite low.

For other questions please contact us.