It may be underused now, but not enough so to allow for a personal plane for everyone commuting to work, plus another billion drones delivering mail and whatnot. And air control often has to reroute or delay flights due to unexpected congestion or weather, despite space being “unused”.
Also, flight is already far more regulated than ground travel. It’s much easier and cheaper to get a driver’s license than a pilot’s license. Politically and socially, self-driving cars will be accepted much more easily than single-person aircraft, whether flown robotically or manually.
I was more surprised by the unusual lack of paternalism. In some countries at least, you’re not allowed to ride a motorcycle without a helmet (though it’s no more dangerous to others than riding it wearing a helmet), and flying a ultralight without much experience with it is, by my wild-ass guess, at least as dangerous to yourself as riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
I’m not so sure. Ultralights don’t go very fast or very high. You could certainly kill yourself on one, but a car isn’t going to hit you up in the sky.
It may be underused now, but not enough so to allow for a personal plane for everyone commuting to work, plus another billion drones delivering mail and whatnot. And air control often has to reroute or delay flights due to unexpected congestion or weather, despite space being “unused”.
Also, flight is already far more regulated than ground travel. It’s much easier and cheaper to get a driver’s license than a pilot’s license. Politically and socially, self-driving cars will be accepted much more easily than single-person aircraft, whether flown robotically or manually.
You don’t need a license at all to fly ultralights.
I didn’t know that that was possible in some countries. I assumed unlicensed aviation was currently limited to powered paragliders. Thanks.
o.O
I think you’re also not allowed to fly them over inhabited areas, if that concerns you.
I was more surprised by the unusual lack of paternalism. In some countries at least, you’re not allowed to ride a motorcycle without a helmet (though it’s no more dangerous to others than riding it wearing a helmet), and flying a ultralight without much experience with it is, by my wild-ass guess, at least as dangerous to yourself as riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
I’m not so sure. Ultralights don’t go very fast or very high. You could certainly kill yourself on one, but a car isn’t going to hit you up in the sky.