Research Paper On Flying Cars.docx

Ma.Loisa S. Dasmariñas (1678-18)

FLYING CARS: LAWS AND MOBILITY

Introduction

“The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all what the world needs most are dreamers that do.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach The flying car was nothing but merely a science fiction dream that people had thought about until it slowly became a reality and a possible solution to the ever growing congestion of land transportation. Flying cars were first introduced in Jules Verne’s novel “Master of the World” which was released back in 1904. Ever since then, generations of engineers have tried to re-create the flying car as depicted in the novel.

In 1940, Henry Ford predicted a future where a combination of a car and an airplane would exist and that it would be a revolution in the transportation industry.

A flying car is a type of personal air vehicle or roadable aircraft that provides door-to-door transportation by both ground and air. The term "flying car" is also sometimes used to include hovercars. Many prototypes have been built since the first years of the twentieth century using a variety of flight technologies and some have true VTOL performance, but no flying car has yet reached production status. Their appearance is often predicted by futurologists, with their failure ever to reach production leading to the catchphrase, "Where's my flying

car?". Flying cars are also a popular theme in fantasy and science fiction stories. (Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_car) The main reason for this innovation is to lessen road congestion and to usher in a new age in aerospace industry and the transportation industry. Design and Mobility A practical flying car must be capable of safe, reliable and environmentally-friendly operation both on public roads and in the air. For widespread adoption it must also be able to fly without a qualified pilot at the controls and come at affordable purchase and running costs. Many types of aircraft technologies and form factors have been tried. The simplest and earliest approach was to give a drive-able car added, bolt-on fixed flying surfaces and propeller. However, such a design must either tow its removable parts on a separate trailer behind it or return to its last landing point before taking off again. Other conventional takeoff fixed-wing designs include folding wings, which the car carries with it when driven on the road. Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) designs include rotorcraft with folding blades, as well as ducted-fan and tiltrotor vehicles. Most design concepts have inherent problems. Ducted-fan aircraft such tend to easily lose stability and have been unable to travel at greater than 30–40 knots. Tiltrotors are generally noisy. To date, no vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle has ever demonstrated adequate road capabilities. A basic flying car requires the person at the controls to be both a qualified road driver and aircraft pilot. This is impractical for the majority of people and so wider adoption will require computer systems to de-skill piloting. These include aircraft maneuvering, navigation and emergency procedures, all in potentially crowded airspace. Fly-by-wire computers can also make up for many deficiencies in flight dynamics, such as stability. A

practical flying car may need to be a fully autonomous vehicle in which people are present only as passengers. In mid-air collisions and mechanical failures, the aircraft could fall from the sky or go through an emergency landing, resulting in deaths and property damage. In addition, poor weather conditions, such as low air density, lightning storms and heavy rain, snow or fog could be challenging and affect the aircraft's aerodynamics. Mechanically, the challenges of flight are so strict that every opportunity must be taken to keep weight to a minimum and a typical airframe is lightweight and easily damaged. On the other hand a road vehicle must be able to withstand significant impact loads from casual incidents as well as low-speed and high-speed impacts, and the high strength this demands can add considerable weight. A practical flying car must be both strong enough to pass road safety standards and light enough to fly. (Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_car) Issues

The following are the issues that surround the implementation of flying cars:  Safety of passengers  Penal Punishment  Taxation  Insurance  Support of the Government  Safety of Laborers

Discussion

Article 1733 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines would be applied in this case as the flying car is a mode of transportation and that the safety of its passengers are its top priority. Extraordinary diligence is due when it comes to common carriers. Article 1736 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines would also be applicable as it states that “The extraordinary responsibility of the common carrier lasts from the time the goods are unconditionally placed in the possession of, and received by the carrier for transportation until the same are delivered, actually or constructively, by the carrier to the consignee, or to the person who has a right to receive them, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 1738.” Republic Act No.10883, Section 3 discusses the penalties of those who commit this type of crime “Sec. 3. Carnapping; Penalties. – Carnapping is the taking, with intent to gain, of a motor vehicle belonging to another without the latter’s consent, or by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or by using force upon things. Any person who is found guilty of carnapping shall, regardless of the value of the motor vehicle taken, be punished by imprisonment for not less than twenty (20) years and one (1) day but not more than thirty (30) years, when the carnapping is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things; and by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) years and one (1) day but not more than forty (40) years, when the carnapping is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things; and the penalty of life imprisonment shall be imposed when the owner, driver, or occupant of the carnapped motor vehicle is killed or raped in the commission of the carnapping. Any person charged with carnapping or when the crime of carnapping is committed by criminal groups, gangs or syndicates or by means of violence or intimidation of any person or persons or forced upon things; or when the owner, driver, passenger or occupant of the carnapped vehicle is killed or raped in the course of the carnapping shall be denied bail when the evidence of guilt is strong.” According to Republic Act No. 9224 which is “An Act rationalizing the excise tax on automobiles, amending for the purpose the national internal

revenue code of 1997, and for other purposes”. It explains how the excise tax of the automobile is computed and it also defines what are considered as automobiles and what are exempted from this law.

Since the flying car is considered as a vehicle that can traverse in both land and air the insurance applicable would be different depending on how it would be used.

According to Presidential Decree No. 612 which is the Insurance Code of the Philippines, specifically Chapter II, Title I, Section 99 (1)(a) which depicts what is insured under this section “(1) Insurance against loss of or damage to: (a) Vessels, craft, aircraft, vehicles, goods, freights, cargoes, merchandise, effects, disbursements, profits, moneys, securities, choses in action, evidences of debts, valuable papers, bottomry, and respondentia interests and all other kinds of property and interests therein, in respect to, appertaining to or in connection with any and all risks or perils of navigation, transit or transportation, or while being assembled, packed, crated, baled, compressed or similarly prepared for shipment or while awaiting shipment, or during any delays, storage, transhipment, or reshipment incident thereto, including war risks, marine builder's risks, and all personal property floater risks;”

According also to Presidential Decree No. 612 since the flying car can also travel on land the insurance that is applicable to a motor vehicle is also applicable which is under Chapter IV Section 374 “It shall be unlawful for any land transportation operator or owner of a motor vehicle to operate the same in the public highways unless there is in force in relation thereto a policy of insurance or guaranty in cash or surety bond issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to indemnify the death, bodily injury, and/or damage to property of a third-party or passenger, as the case may be, arising from the use thereof.”

According to Chapter XIV Sections 10, 12, and 13 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines the State shall promote the protection of the

rights of inventors, scientist, etc., as well as prioritize research and development of science and technology for the national development and progress of the State. The State shall also encourage participation from private groups, local governments, and community-based organizations.

According to the Labor Code of the Philippines, Book Four, Title I, Chapter II, Article 162 “Safety and health standards. - The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, by appropriate orders, set and enforce mandatory occupational safety and health standards to eliminate or reduce occupational safety and health hazards in all workplaces and institute new, and update existing, programs to ensure safe and healthful working conditions in all places of employment.”

Another would be also under the Labor Code of the Philippines, Book Four, Title II, Article 168 “Compulsory coverage. - Coverage in the State Insurance Fund shall be compulsory upon all employers and their employees not over sixty (60) years of age: Provided, That an employee who is over (60) years of age and paying contributions to qualify for the retirement or life insurance benefit administered by the System shall be subject to compulsory coverage.”

Conclusion

Based on all the above mentioned issues the application of the laws in accordance to what our country recommends is applicable to the production and adoption of flying cars as a mode of transportation as it not only be applicable for land transportation but air transportation as well.

Only time will tell the success of the application and adoption of flying cars as a mode of transportation and as an industry.

Recommendation

The only recommendation applicable would be a more coherent and concise law that would be applicable only to flying cars as well as the guidelines and rules regarding these kinds of vehicles and their drivers.