The Official Monthly Magazine of Dubai`s RTA Issue No. 113 November 2017 Trial flight of Air Taxi takes off Vision Mission Vision Safe and Smooth Transport for All Mission Develop and Manage integrated and sustainable Roads and transportation systems at a world-class level, and provide pioneered services to all. Stakeholders for their happiness, and support Dubai’s vision through Shaping the future, preparing policies and legislations, adopting. Technologies and innovations, and implementing world-class practices and Standards. 2 Air Taxi From the ground and water mobility means, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is shifting gear to offer airborne services in an endeavour to reassert the standing of Dubai as a leading destination in all competitiveness indicators worldwide. This time around, it is the launch by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, of the trial flight of the two-seater Autonomous Air Taxi (AAT) branded Volocopter; a specialist German manufacturer of autonomous air vehicles. The move is part of RTA’s efforts to implement the ‘10X’ initiative of His Highness Sheikh H.E. Mattar Al Tayer Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Director General and Chairman of Ruler of Dubai. Such initiative aims to maintain the competitiveness of Dubai and make the Board of Executive Directors it a city for the future through rolling out creative solutions and ideas that place Dubai 10 years ahead of other cosmopolitan cities. RTA was keen to work with the best international specialists in this regard. A team from RTA visited several autonomous air vehicle manufacturers, the German Volocopter company was selected thanks to its compliance with the international safety and security standards, and passing the rigorous standards of the German Aviation Authority that apply the highest safety and security levels in designing and operating aircrafts. The AAT is powered by electricity and has high safety features, thanks to its design comprising 18 rotors to ensure safe cruising and landing in case of any rotor failure. The aerial taxi is characterised by the autopilot or autonomous flying feature, thus enabling the movement of people from place to another without human intervention or a need for a flight license. The trial run of the AAT will continue for about five years during which the RTA will fulfil all operational requirements in collaboration with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. Requirements include initiating laws & policies governing the operation of the AAT, defining aerial routes and passages, designing & locating take-off and landing points, setting the standards of official operators of the service in Dubai, identifying the roles & responsibilities of stakeholders, and specifying the security and safety standards of the AAT. RTA is moving ahead with the implementation of the leaders’ vision in exploring all avenues that may bring better services to the community and make life easier and happier for all. November 2017 almasar 2 - 3 Issue No. 11٣ GENERAL SUPERVISOR CONTENT Moaza Saeed Al Marri 06 Trial flight of Air Taxi takes off EDITOR IN CHIEF AlMoatasem Belah Mohammed 12 Hamdan and Maktoum bin Mohammed visit RTA Stand in Gitex MANAGING DIRECTOR 18 Theyab bin Mohammed visits RTA Mohammed Al Munji EDITING MANAGER Our News Nashwan Mahmood 21 Dubai Maritime unveils ‘Sea Dubai’ initiative PHOTOGRAPHY 24 RTA Strategy shapes the future Sahir Babu 25 RTA mulls cooperation with Smart Dubai DESIGN & 22 1st IRF Conference kicks off MARKETING Our Projects Art Director Said Mansour 26 Cycling lanes stretch to 500 km by 2021 27 RTA awards contract to construct entry points for Culture Village CONTACT US P.O.Box: 118899 Dubai,U.A.E Tel : +971 4 2902638 Fax: +971 4 2903933 Email: [email protected] www.rta.ae 12 Almasar Application is available on Apple store Reciprocal Al Masar magazine Editorial Board offers the Reciprocal Ads initiative whereby a space for an advert is allocated to strategic partners and other government entities against allocating the same space in & Goole play by name: almasar magazine Ads Initiative the magazine of the beneficial entity during the same month for the benefit of the RTA. 4 06 Our services Figures 28 Comprehensive study to revamp school transport 34 96th Number Plate Auction yields AED25 million 30 Dubai Taxi Limo becomes approved transporter with Palazzo Versace 31 Psychological & Linguistic Tests Guide improves Achievements drivers competency 35 RTA scoops 12 IdeasAmerica Awards 32 7 new bus routes opened 33 3 Minutes enough for issuing NOC Community Safety 33 Heavy truck drivers need permits 36 RTA all smiles to carers of our loved ones 18 November 2017 almasar 4 - 5 Issue No. 11٣ Cover story Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses the first test flight 6 HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, attended the maiden concept flight of the Autonomous Air Taxi (AAT), a vehicle that will be used for the world’s first self-flying taxi service set to be introduced by Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). The two-seater AAT, capable of transporting people He further said that adopting advanced innovative tech- without human intervention or a pilot, has been sup- nologies and applications that help to enhance services plied by Volocopter, a Germany-based specialist man- for the community is key to topping global competitive- ufacturer of autonomous air vehicles. The test flight ness rankings. was held at a location near the Jumeirah Beach Park. “Encouraging innovation and adopting the latest tech- “After the remarkable success of the first driverless nologies contribute not only to the country’s develop- metro in the region, we are glad to witness today the ment but also build bridges into the future,” he added test flight of the Autonomous Air Taxi,” said HH Sheikh His Highness stressed the importance of the transporta- Hamdan. “This is another testament to our commitment tion sector, which he said is a vital driver of the develop- to driving positive change. We are constantly exploring ment process and an indicator of the level of advance- opportunities to serve the community and advance the ment of the nation. He hailed the remarkable progress prosperity and happiness of society.” achieved in this sector through a number of landmark November 2017 almasar 6 - 7 Issue No. 11٣ Cover story projects that have maintained the highest international propellers, motors, power source, electronics and flight standards while remaining true to the principles of envi- controls. It is also fitted with optional emergency para- ronmental sustainability. chutes, nine independent battery systems, and a battery HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chair- quick-charge and plug-in system, which takes two hours man of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman to reach full charge in the prototype version, a time that of Emirates Group; HE Mohammad bin Abdullah Al will be significantly reduced in the production version.” Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Fu- Powered by clean electricity and featuring low noise lev- ture; and HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Min- els, the AAT is an environmentally friendly vehicle. Its ister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civ- current prototype version has a maximum flight time of il Aviation Authority also attended the test flight. approximately 30 minutes at a cruise speed of 50 km/h, HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of and a maximum airspeed of 100 km/h. All these features the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said: “The will evolve in the production vehicles. The AAT measures Autonomous Air Taxi has a variety of unique features about two meters in height, and the diameter of the rotor that include top security and safety standards, and mul- rim, including propellers, is just over seven meters. tiple redundancies in all critical components such as His Highness Sheikh Hamdan was briefed about the in- 8 November 2017 almasar 8 - 9 Issue No. 11٣ Cover story tegration of the AAT with public transport systems such responsibilities of stakeholders, and specifying security as the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine and safety standards for the AAT. transit modes and taxis. The briefing also covered the Al Tayer revealed that the RTA has appointed US-based procedures for making the AAT service available to the JDA Aviation Company, an autonomous air-vehicle safe- public through a smart mobility app. The app will allow ty specialist, to oversee preparations for AAT flights and customers to book flights, receive booking reference de- manage safety. The trial operations and the process tails and track the route of the AAT. of developing legislation for this type of vehicles will Over the next five years, the RTA will collaborate with stretch across five years, during which comprehensive the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the Dubai operational, security and safety measures will be put in Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that the operational place, noted Al Tayer. requirements for implementing AAT services are put in His Highness Sheikh Hamdan pressed the operation place. These requirements include developing laws and button to launch the first AAT and watched its flight in policies governing certification of the aircraft and AAT the sky. He also watched aerial shots transmitted by operations at an Emirate and Federal level, defining ae- the airborne taxi on monitors, and reviewed the process rial routes and corridors, designing and locating take-off that the RTA will follow to track the flight of the AAT. His and landing points, setting standards for official opera- Highness then posed for photos with the project teams tors of AAT services in Dubai, identifying the roles and from the RTA and Volocopter.