At the rate of how technology is progressing today, we can expect that some of today’s problems will soon be effectively solved through new technologies across various sectors including health, safety and security, as well as transportation.
If we really think about it, much of the technological advancements that we have today have only been imagined a couple of decades ago. Having said that, we can also claim that anything we can imagine can become a possibility through the help of technology.
Kuwait Airways Signs Dutch Flying Car Deal
In this regard, air travel in smaller units such as cars has been among the next focus of the technological advancements concerning transportation.
In this regard, Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dutch Personal Air Land Vehicle (PAL-V) flying cars manufacturing company, which entitles the KAC as the primary maintenance service provider for flying vehicles produced by the Dutch company in the Gulf and the Middle East, as shared in a report by the Kuwait Times.
The MoU was signed by KAC Deputy CEO Abdul Halim Zaidan and PAL-V CEO Robert Dingemanse, in a ceremony that was also attended by KAC Board Chairman Yousif Abdul Hameed Al-Jassem, the Netherlands Ambassador to Kuwait Frans Potuyt, KAC CEO Kamel Al-Awadhi, manager of the regional business center in Dubai Abdullah Al-Enezi, as well as PAL-V’s Deputy CEO in the Middle East Khalil Malaeb.
Ambassador Potuyt expressed his happiness and hopes that the agreement would successfully benefit both sides. Potuyt also noted that the agreement would further cement both countries’ economic, political, and diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, for his part, Al-Awadhi said that the MoU aims at providing KAC clients with various services, and to highlight KAC’s role in utilizing the high skills of its engineering and technical staff to provide aircraft maintenance operations for both local and international air crafts.
For his part, Dingemanse explained that the MoU proves to be a ‘historic’ move in the field of aviation, and marks the start of long term cooperation between the two international companies. As per initial proposal, the flying car will be on sale by 2021. It can easily be turned into an aircraft when needed, and can be used by state bodies such as the military, the national guards, firemen, paramedics as well as those in the private sector, who may have a need for them.
PAL-V is a two-seater vehicle with a maximum speed of 170 k/h using the same jet fuel used in regular aircraft. It needs a 180-meter long runaway to take off and a 30-meter long runway to land. It can take off from roads and fly at a 10,000-feet altitude.
The production of such technologically advanced vehicles will prove to have great significance in the region, and the role of the KAC in its distribution and manufacture will also prove to be very crucial, as well.