Think Forward EP 131 - Future of Flight with Catherine Roy

Catherine Roy, a designer turned strategic futurist at Thales, reveals that flying taxis and advanced air mobility face substantial social acceptance challenges beyond mere technological hurdles. Her research identified 62 criteria for social acceptability of air taxis, demonstrating the complexity of successfully introducing this transportation mode.

We touch upon many things in this episode including:

• How she transformed into a strategic futurist leading global design networks
• Research found 62 social acceptability criteria for advanced air mobility versus industry's focus on just 7-8
• Urban planners view flying vehicles as extending traffic problems into the air rather than solving mobility issues
• Capacity limitations make eVTOLs inefficient compared to mass transit (only 0-125 passengers/hour in 2040 projections)
• Entire infrastructure including vertiports and communication systems would need building from scratch
• Flying vehicles could increase social stratification between wealthy "skylanders" and ground-dwelling "flatlanders"
• Future climate priorities may overshadow investments in advanced air mobility infrastructure
• Innovation requires developing unique perspectives and courage to stand your ground against mainstream thinking

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🎧 Listen Now On:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO

Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/

Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.