Residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will soon have the opportunity to purchase a flying car that can be used on roads, parked at home, and then transformed into an aircraft for short flights. This is becoming possible due to the preparation of the Chinese company Aridge to bring its personal flying vehicle to the market.
Unlike electric air taxis developed by companies such as Joby Aviation, which are intended for commercial passenger transport, the Land Aircraft Carrier model from Aridge is aimed at individual consumers. It combines a six-wheeled ground vehicle with a detachable electric aircraft capable of carrying two people.
Tan Van, co-founder and vice president of Aridge, and general manager of XPENG Design, detailed in an interview with Khaleej Times the principles of the two modules' collaboration, system technologies, and what potential buyers in the UAE should know before commercial implementation.
The Land Aircraft Carrier consists of two separate components: a ground vehicle that transports the aircraft, and a two-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft located in the rear compartment. Owners can drive the vehicle to a designated flight zone, after which the aircraft deploys. The connection and disconnection process is automated and requires only one button press, as described by Van.
He noted that the mechanism that can connect and disconnect with one touch is built using at least seven systems and over a thousand parts. After activation, the vehicle opens the rear compartment and releases the flying module. This module descends to the ground, while a specialized pneumatic suspension system helps it adapt to various surfaces and soil conditions.
After completing the flight, the aircraft can be returned to the vehicle via autonomous docking. Cameras identify the aircraft and guide the ground vehicle to it, while the suspension adjusts the height to ensure precise alignment of the two modules. Then, the vehicle takes the required position and retrieves the aircraft into its rear compartment. Van reported that the reconnection process takes about four to five minutes.
Unlike air taxis focused on commercial services, Aridge targets private users who wish to own and operate their own flying apparatus. With the Land Aircraft Carrier, owners do not need to rent hangar space or store the aircraft at an airport; the flying module can be stored inside the ground vehicle itself, and the owner can park in their personal spot, adhering to applicable parking and transport regulations.
The company has received approximately 7,000 pre-orders worldwide, of which about 600 came from markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. However, owning the vehicle does not guarantee the ability to fly at any time; the aircraft must first obtain the necessary aviation permits, and the rules governing the activities of private operators and flight locations in the UAE are still under development.
Van specified that Aridge must first obtain type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Following this, the company will seek approval through the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE (GCAA), which will allow the aircraft to be legally operated in the country. He emphasized: 'First, we need to achieve our goal in China. We need type certification from CAAC. After that, we will get VTC. It is already valid under Chinese type certification, and then we can fly here legally.'
Aircraft operation will not be possible in any open area; it will depend on approved flight zones, airspace regulations, and infrastructure created by local authorities. Aridge has entered into an agreement with Ras Al Khaimah to create a regulatory sandbox for testing the technology under the supervision of UAE aviation authorities. The company is also willing to share existing infrastructure with other electric aerial vehicle operators, including Skyport vertiports being built for Joby's air taxi operations.
