Local Brief
How San Antonio could shape air taxi future
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Here's what a vertiport could look like. Image: Courtesy of Port San Antonio
Port San Antonio is positioning itself as a testing ground for emerging air taxi technology as Texas joins a federal pilot program.
Why it matters: San Antonio could play a role in a national effort to develop advanced air mobility (AAM), which includes a system of low-flying electric aircraft moving people and cargo.
Catch up quick: The Texas Department of Transportation was selected this month for one of eight projects under the Federal Aviation Administration's Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program.
- The Texas plan calls for regional routes linking Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, with Houston to follow.
- TxDOT tells Axios that the Alamo City is expected to play a key role in the network, potentially supporting medical, cargo and passenger routes, though specific operations are still being worked out with the FAA.
- Port San Antonio president and CEO Jim Perschbach tells Axios the federal pilot program gives Texas room to test aircraft and airspace systems without overhauling national aviation rules.
State of play: Work is already underway. Land is being cleared at Port San Antonio for a future vertiport — where electric aircraft can take off, land and recharge.
- The Port's focus is less on the aircraft itself and more on how to manage that airspace at scale, Perschbach says.
- "It's more like navigating a parking lot than a highway," Perschbach says of low-altitude flying.
- Austin-based SkyGrid is working with the Port on tools to help operators understand conditions and avoid hazards, mapping routes that use sensors, weather data and AI.
Between the lines: Perschbach argues San Antonio's sprawl and mix of aerospace, cybersecurity and emerging AI-related talent make it a strong testing site and a place where the technology could solve transportation gaps.
- The bigger shift, he argues, is moving away from a luxury "flying car" model toward something closer to an extension of public transportation.
Reality check: VIA Metropolitan Transit tells Axios in a statement that it remains focused on expanding bus and rapid transit service but is "encouraged by emerging technologies" that could strengthen connectivity.
What's next: Test flights could begin relatively soon, with early uses in health care and cargo, Perschbach says.
- Routine passenger service — especially for everyday commuters — faces a longer runway.