Uber CEO: Air taxis could become a reality within decade

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Tuesday that he sees his company taking to the skies within the next five to 10 years.

Khosrowshahi said at an investor forum in Tokyo that he expects flying vehicles to become an affordable means of mass travel and that Uber could jump in with its own Uber Air taxi service, according to Reuters.

The company had previously introduced its plans for an air-taxi service in 2016 as part of a 99-page white paper detailing the company’s vision for the commercialization of mass air transit.

{mosads}The plan relies on the development of smaller, electric helicopter-style vehicles that can be used to transport riders from the suburbs into cities, or as a way to avoid city congestion altogether.

Such plans would still need authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Uber is setting a five- to 10-year time frame for initial operation and testing of its mass air transit efforts.