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Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

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Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#151

Post by jrockway »

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #124
orbitur wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know. I think I'd pay $160 to not sit in traffic for 3 hours, just to wait in an airport/go through security for another 2. That means extra time to get things done before you fly out.

As someone who lives in a city with a population of approximately 100,000 in the greater metro area - Launceston, Tasmania - I'd like to take a moment to reflect on your comment. Google Maps tells me Manhattan to JFK Airport is a 32 kilometre taxi ride and takes three hours, plus it takes two hours to clear security at the airport. I'm a little astounded by those numbers. Five hours to get from the couch at home to t…

Takes me about an hour door-to-door via public transportation from downtown Brooklyn. I've never felt like paying the $70 to take a taxi, so not sure how long that takes.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#152

Post by chambo622 »

efuquen wrote: post #115
mikeash wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Driving for Uber, maybe.

Man would love a Tesla to pick me when randomly using Uber one day.

Uber Lux already offers that in Los Angeles, but it comes at a price.

http://blog.uber.com/LuxLAInvite

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#154

Post by raverbashing »

lnanek2 wrote: post #33
fishnchips wrote: post #3

What a wonderful and completely non-scalable solution to the question of public transportation.

What makes you think it won't scale? Seems to mesh well with all the PR about drones all over the place lately. I could easily see the helicopters being replaced with remote piloted drone taxis within a decade.

> I could easily see the helicopters being replaced with remote piloted drone taxis within a decade.

You have no idea what you're talking about

It's one thing for Amazon to put your stuff in there, another, for a drone carrying people fly next to an airport

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#155

Post by practicalpants »

cobblestone wrote: post #94
mikeash wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like blatant false advertising to have "$99" in big text and nothing but an asterisk to indicate that this is a rate you're allowed to have exactly once ever.

Apps don't even exist. Right now they're just collecting email addresses, gaining buzz, and I highly doubt they have any capacity to actually fulfill any of it.

Not surprised. The site looks cheap, thrown together, especially for one in the luxury market.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#156

Post by Animats »

larrys wrote: post #67
adevine wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're not the carrier. From the bottom of the page: Gotham Air is not a direct air carrier but rather provides technology and information services enabling consumers to obtain aircraft charter and shared aircraft charter services from FAA certified and DOT registered air carriers who exercise operational control over all flights .

Exactly I've seen a few services like this advertised exactly the same way (WSJ ads some run by former industry execs). Interesting thought that the picture of the heli contradicts that (says "Gotham Air" on the side). That's no small point actually. Gives someone who doesn't read the fine print the idea that they do operate the aircraft. I understand why they do that but it is a bit deceptive.

The helicopter with "Gotham Air" on the side is a fake photo based on a New York Heli publicity shot. It's a Photoshop job.

Original: http://hereandtherewithoutacare.com/wp-content/gallery/new-y...

Faked, from Gotham Air site: http://static.wixstatic.com/media/b49883_4bfd352941a043ba83c...

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#157

Post by ehnto »

bdamm wrote: post #68
azinman2 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lame. Now it really is for the 1%. At $99 I can imagine a family wanting to take one to reduce stress and complexities. How long until drones can take us? :)

Drones that can carry people are likely to be more expensive than existing aircraft that can carry people. Why? Because they have to meet the same safety requirements as existing aircraft, but carry enough electronics to fly the aircraft as autonomously and as safely as a human pilot, which I think is actually a substantial hurdle to overcome.

I think regulations and efficacy will be the hardest hurdles, as they are proving to be for non-passenger drones. Second to sensory and risk perception challenges which will just various cameras and extra code.

If you assume you're taking out the pilot and replacing him with electronics, and assuming your average pilot is ~80-90kg, that's a fairly substantial amount of weight available for computing systems.

The theory between small and large craft autonomous flight should be the same, we've already got plenty of aircraft sized drones flying about that are packed with ordnance and axillary sensors for imaging and surveillance.

You have more things to worry about regarding subsystems on larger craft, but even those will likely just be additional code rather than extra heavy hardware on board.

I think the most likely pathway for a passenger drone will be retrofitting existing aircraft, and that could amount to a bunch of sensory equipment, a main control unit and a bunch of servos. Nothing too heavy, and it would just eat into a helicopters existing weight limits which are often fairly substantial.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#158

Post by lucaspiller »

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #131
larrys wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly I've seen a few services like this advertised exactly the same way (WSJ ads some run by former industry execs). Interesting thought that the picture of the heli contradicts that (says "Gotham Air" on the side). That's no small point actually. Gives someone who doesn't read the fine print the idea that they do operate the aircraft. I understand why they do that but it is a bit deceptive.

Wouldn't the livery on that helicopter in the photo just be a form of corporate advertising. Couldn't you paint your aircraft however you want so long as the correct registration / licensing marks are visible?

Ryanair let you advertise on the exterior of their aircraft from €3000/month. Apparently the "cheapest outdoor medium in the world".

http://www.ryanair.com/doc/advertise/RyanairMediaCard.pdf

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#159

Post by allendoerfer »

As mentioned in the comments, the actual price will be ~200$ with a rented helicopter, which can take up to 6 passenger.

My first thoughts as a layman are, if the service takes off [0] it could be made really feasible if they find a way to rent, land and operate a monster like the Mil Mi-26 [1], which takes 60 civilians or 90 troops.

People would use the service just to fly to the airport for fun.

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQZi7tmWhR4

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mi-26

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#160

Post by sandworm »

I'm no stickler for grammar, but if you are running a website for a service claiming to pride itself on luxury and detail, then...

"You never need to share the car strangers and we can pick you up and drop you off at your front door. [double asterisk] "

And the [double asterisk] means you need to book the flight 48 hours in advance if you want the car as backup. That would preclude any crowd-sourced flights via their app. Lol. So much for chopper-uber.

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