By Sarah Young

LONDON, (Reuters) – Tired of the traffic jams around London? Imagine a world in which your taxi takes off from your building and land on the top of your office. Then, it recharges before setting off again.

Stephen Fitzpatrick (founder and CEO of Vertical Aerospace of Britain) has this vision. The company is expected to merge with a New York-listed blank-cheque company for $394 million. Fitzpatrick also claims that his plane will fly by the middle of 2020s.

He’s not the only one. Vertical has been praised by many of the top-ranking engineers and airlines around the world for its zero-emission miniaircraft. It can silently transport four passengers for 120 miles (roughly 193 kms) in the sky.

American Airlines (NASDAQ:), aircraft lessor Avolon, engineers Honeywell (NASDAQ:) and Rolls-Royce (OTC:), as well as Microsoft’s M12 unit are investing in the merger, which is expected to complete by the end of the year.

Fitzpatrick also founded OVO Energy in Britain, Britain’s third largest energy retailer. He said that vertical flights from London’s Heathrow airport to Canary Wharf’s financial district take just 15 minutes, and will cost 50 Pounds ($68 per person).

These potentials are attracting attention from airlines. Over 1,000 VAX4 aircraft were ordered by customers. Customers are showing interest in zero-emission aircraft at a moment when investors are putting pressure on aviation companies to decarbonize their sector and improve their governance, environmental and social scores.

We are looking to sign agreements. Fitzpatrick stated that airlines are showing strong appetites and demand.

Vertical faces the biggest challenge in certifying its planes, which Fitzpatrick indicated it will be able to accomplish by the 2024 end, with the help of new funds from the merger.

TEST FLIGHTS

Fitzpatrick had this idea in 2015, when he was stuck in traffic jams for hours on Sao Paulo’s 10 lanes.

He said that there were not many competition back then. However, analysts now estimate that there are over 100 firms working on electric Vertical Take-Off Landing (eVOTL), aircraft.

The VA-X4 has not yet been completed and test flights of the aircraft will be conducted early next year. Vertical believes Vertical’s partnership will make it a winner.

Fitzpatrick is confident that the VA-X4 can fly using battery technology from car manufacturing and well-tested electric propulsion units. Honeywell electronics back Fitzpatrick.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency will be responsible for certification

The certification process is known. Fitzpatrick has hired senior engineers from Airbus as well as Rolls-Royce to help him with the certification process. Although these technologies are quite new, they are very similar to those of other aircraft.

Fitzpatrick believes that there are other obstacles to developing a new transport mode.

He said that they were already discussing, “for example, Heathrow Airport”, and pointed out from his office window potential locations for skyports on rooftops.

Airlines are the best at convincing customers.

He said that “I believe the brand association and trusted airlines are really going to assist passengers embrace the latest technology.”