Bumpy ride
The flight from Benavente to Braga cost approximately half the price of a return train ticket. But passengers still have to find a means of transportation from the city centre out to the tiny airport where this kind of light aircraft takes off and lands. And there is unlikely to be much choice over a return flight.
Passengers also need to be prepared for a trip with fewer amenities than in a train or on a commercial flight: no air conditioning, which was definitely a problem for my trip on a hot afternoon (flying at a higher altitude and opening a tiny window were the two options suggested by the pilot to cool down the cockpit). When flying low, there was a lot of bumping, which caused some nausea. The engine was loud and communication with the pilot had to be done through the radio system, in spite of the fact we were sitting very close. Of course, there's very little space and no toilets. The view is much better, though.
Moreover not all flights would be as cheap as the one I took. Aircrafts with capacity for up to six people can be registered on the platform. But the larger the aircraft, the more fuel it will consume and some of the aircraft operate on more expensive fuel. Some airfields charge planes for taking off and landing, which can add €10 or €20 to the price.
There are no transactions between pilot and riders. Users pay through Skyuber's platform. The company charges a 20% fee (plus VAT) of the payment the pilot receives.
Just as in other parts of the sharing economy, the app enables users to rate pilots. Pilots can also rate their passengers and turn down anyone troublesome. Mr Oliveira says this is for safety reasons, as the pilot always makes the last call regarding whether to take off or not. If a flight is cancelled, nothing is charged.
The company says there are currently around 1,400 pilots signed up, and around 7,000 would-be passengers.
Paulo Almeida, a flight instructor who signed up to use Skyuber, sees it as "an opportunity to share the emotion of flying". But he also says it may bring safety benefits, as it makes it cheaper for amateur pilots to maintain their skills. "When fuel prices and taxes went up, some pilots stopped flying as many hours as advisable", he says.
Bumpy rideThe flight from Benavente to Braga cost approximately half the price of a return train ticket. But passengers still have to find a means of transportation from the city centre out to the tiny airport where this kind of light aircraft takes off and lands. And there is unlikely to be much choice over a return flight.Passengers also need to be prepared for a trip with fewer amenities than in a train or on a commercial flight: no air conditioning, which was definitely a problem for my trip on a hot afternoon (flying at a higher altitude and opening a tiny window were the two options suggested by the pilot to cool down the cockpit). When flying low, there was a lot of bumping, which caused some nausea. The engine was loud and communication with the pilot had to be done through the radio system, in spite of the fact we were sitting very close. Of course, there's very little space and no toilets. The view is much better, though.Moreover not all flights would be as cheap as the one I took. Aircrafts with capacity for up to six people can be registered on the platform. But the larger the aircraft, the more fuel it will consume and some of the aircraft operate on more expensive fuel. Some airfields charge planes for taking off and landing, which can add €10 or €20 to the price.There are no transactions between pilot and riders. Users pay through Skyuber's platform. The company charges a 20% fee (plus VAT) of the payment the pilot receives.Just as in other parts of the sharing economy, the app enables users to rate pilots. Pilots can also rate their passengers and turn down anyone troublesome. Mr Oliveira says this is for safety reasons, as the pilot always makes the last call regarding whether to take off or not. If a flight is cancelled, nothing is charged.The company says there are currently around 1,400 pilots signed up, and around 7,000 would-be passengers.Paulo Almeida, a flight instructor who signed up to use Skyuber, sees it as "an opportunity to share the emotion of flying". But he also says it may bring safety benefits, as it makes it cheaper for amateur pilots to maintain their skills. "When fuel prices and taxes went up, some pilots stopped flying as many hours as advisable", he says.
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