Tesla’s new “flying” Roadster may require drivers to get a pilot’s license, according to a report.
The ride, which can soar in the air and reach 60 mph in less than a second, is likely to be subject to unusual regulations, Wired reported Friday.
The vehicle was seen driving upside down on a curved ramp using a suction system, then turning in the air and landing in one piece in a jaw-dropping demo in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday — what Tesla boss Elon Musk billed as a “flying” car.
Production won’t start until 2028, according to Tesla, and nabbing one of the vehicles will require a $50,000 deposit — and a special invite from the company.
On top of that, you might need a pilot’s license, too.
That’s because the Roadster will likely be subject to Federal Aviation Administration oversight, which applies to anything buzzing around the national airspace — meaning drivers in turn would have to get special licenses, former FAA official Michael McCormick told Wired.
“The [Federal Aviation Administration] has jurisdiction over any machine that leaves the surface of the earth,” pilot Scott Miller, who lectures on aviation at San José State University, told the outlet.
The vehicle “is going to introduce a whole set of regulatory issues,” he added.
FAA review could take “at least a year,” McCormick said.
During the Thursday showcase, the Roadster was propelled by a set of cold gas thrusters, similar to those of a rocket. It was seen hovering about 12 feet above the ground after exiting the ramp and heading back to Earth.
The vehicle subsequently vaulted over a row of cars on the ground, among other feats.
The Roadster, which has a steer-by-wire system, was unmanned because the company “didn’t want to kill anyone,” Musk said.
The tech titan, who reportedly has a pilot’s license himself, was pleased with the demo.
“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” he said on X after the demo.
Tech products are poised to fill the friendly skies more and more.
Some air taxis are in the final stages of FAA regulation. Meanwhile, lawmakers want the FAA to review Amazon’s delivery drones.
The FAA and Tesla did not immediately respond to a requests for comment.