Hi Schorch,i’ll open up by admitting i don’t know what VLJ stands for, could you enlighten me please.On that note i would say that i do not expect any aircraft with VTOL or VSTOL capabilities could out perform a conventional turboprop or piston aircraft on operating costs,however it is the VTOL/VSTOL capabilities that make the air taxi a possibility.
Reguarding operating costs ,the Groen Bros Hawk 4 has lower operating cost to a similar helicopter(i would imagine that means Bell jet ranger)whilst having a negligable take off distance of 25feet.It also has higher max speed.
I will conceed that the Cartercopter CH 45 may be a little large to be a viable taxi/bus service in that it would need larger areas to land and take off but i see it as better design concept to tilt rotor.I believe it could still be a useful commutor tool into airport hubs though.
My second confession is I do not know ANYTHING about the ATC side of life.I know it’s a necessity and I also know i would prefer my pilot (not that i have one)to have the use of their services.This question was posed in the origonal thread though.
Finally , I’m with you on your last point about regalution.Should any of these ideas have any credibility I would imagine the main obsticale would not be one of finance or demand ,it would be that of trying to gain the necassary regulations .We in Europe do not seem to like pioneering ideas.

I agree that helicopters are suitable for the job in every way except operating costs.Unless you are a high flyer (no pun intended) where time is money helicopters are an expensive luxury.Autogyros would bring these costs down with little loss of convinience .Check out http://www.groenbros.com they have a four seat gyro and an update of the fairy rotordyne concept from the 50’s.