The Future is Here: Minnesota's 'The Jetsons Law'

Science fiction has long envisioned a future where flying cars fill the sky. Now, that vision is becoming a reality. Legislation known as 'The Jetsons Law' takes effect Thursday in Minnesota. This pair of bills, signed into law in May, applies to 'roadable aircraft.'

A Comparative Landscape

While Minnesota and New Hampshire are ready for flying cars, California remains hesitant. According to a report by Newsweek, California has yet to issue direct approval for these futurist vehicles.

Yet, the state is home to several flying car developers, including San Mateo-based Alef Aeronautics and Silicon Valley-based Aska.

Even so, Alef Aeronautics President and CEO Jim Dukhovny remains optimistic. 'I think we're close to regulation at the federal level,' Dukhovny told Decrypt. 'Healthy market competition between states and countries is also good for the industry. Governments are realizing the economic and environmental advantages of flying cars.'

The New Legislation

The Minnesota law is modeled after New Hampshire's House Bill 1182, approved in 2020. This bill gave private citizens the right to own flying cars.

However, Minnesota law prohibits taking off and landing on public roads. This legislative move signals a growing acceptance and anticipation of flying cars in everyday life.

Alef Aeronautics: A Pioneer in Flying Car Technology

Alef Aeronautics, co-founded by Dukhovny in 2015, designs hybrid ground and air vehicles. These vehicles can drive on roads and take off and land vertically. Dukhovny cites movies like Back to the Future, BladeRunner, and The 5th Element as inspirations for Alef's designs.

The company has faced various challenges, including optimizing the weight for safe takeoff and landing and managing production costs. Investors in Alef Aeronautics include prominent venture capitalist and Bitcoin proponent Tim Draper. 'In nine years of Alef, we got pretty good at all of the above and learned a lot about how these optimizations work,' Dukhovny said.

Historical Context and Future Prospects

The flying car concept dates back to 1917 with the Curtiss Autoplane, which featured a 40-foot wingspan. In June, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate to Alef Aeronautics for its Armada Model A flying car.

According to the Alef Aeronautics website, an Armada Model A will sell for $299,999, with pre-orders being accepted. While only two states have officially approved flying cars, the number of companies building roadable aircraft continues to grow.

These companies include Oregon-based Samson Sky, Santa Cruz-based Joby Aviation, and San Jose-based Archer Aviation.

The Necessity and Impact of Flying Cars

Dukhovny offers a compelling argument to those who question the necessity of flying cars. 'At the individual level, you waste about a week every year in traffic,' he said. 'This means less seeing your loved ones, less sleeping, and less doing something useful.'

Another factor slowing the adoption of flying cars is the current status of electric vehicles (EVs). Some consumers feel that EVs do not offer a compelling value proposition compared to regular vehicles.

'Flying cars offer green transportation with a better value proposition than a regular car,' Dukhovny said. 'At a state level, the economic impact of traffic is billions of dollars -- think about how this money can be used for other good programs.'

Legislative Nuances

In addition to state laws, Dukhovny noted that the New Hampshire and Minnesota laws do not drastically change road or aviation regulations. 'These laws don't say anything new,' he said. 'They simply say: on the ground, all car laws matter; in the air, all aviation laws matter.'

'These laws don't say anything new. They say: on the ground, all car laws matter; in the air, all aviation laws matter.'

Minnesota's pioneering legislation marks a significant step toward a future where flying cars are an everyday reality. As more states and countries consider similar laws, the dream of a sky filled with flying vehicles edges closer to becoming a reality.