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Berlin (dpa) - Drones as air taxis or for transporting packages or medicines: Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer wants to promote innovative applications and concepts for unmanned aviation.
To this end, his department is launching a new funding program.
Start-up companies and municipalities should be supported in implementing ideas, said the CSU politician in Berlin.
Germany does a lot of development and research, but there is a lot of catching up to do in terms of implementation.
According to the ministry, more than 11 million euros are available for the new funding program.
Scheuer called drones “inconspicuous helpers” that will make many things possible and easier in the future and that could open up a “new dimension” in aviation.
They could quickly transport parcels and essential medicines and support the fire brigade or mountain rescue service on missions.
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It may take some time before drones can be used as air taxis, as Carsten Braun, head of the SkyCab research project, said.
He expects that by 2030 there will be aircraft that will be used in individual cases.
However, he does not see a wider use of drones in transport mode until 2035, then especially in rural areas.
There are many questions to be answered.
With a view to the new funding program, Scheuer said the goal was to develop a good boost.
Drones should become a “natural part of innovative mobility solutions”.
He also announced talks with states and municipalities.
Criticism came from the opposition.
The left-wing transport politician Jörg Cezanne said: «As much as the research funding for special applications is to be welcomed, the drone policy of Transport Minister Scheuer remains a mistake.
Putting millions into the development of air taxis and delivery drones does not make sense either in terms of traffic or climate policy. "
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The FDP transport politician Bernd Reuther said: “The unmanned aviation does not lack funding, but rather unbureaucratic application possibilities.
However, Minister Scheuer prevents this with large-scale prohibition zones, as his draft law on unmanned aviation shows.
With such framework conditions, Germany will never become the lead market for innovative transport concepts. "
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