AA Rocketman to fly by jetpack to motorists this Easter
MOTORISTS face a weekend of chaos as millions head off on their great Easter getaway.
And inevitably with almost 20 million cars taking to the roads this Easter, there are bound to be some breakdowns and accidents.
Which is why the AA has chosen today to launch its rapid response service, which will see its patrols take to the skies with lightweight jetpacks to reach stranded motorists quicker.
The new 'AA Rocketman' service means drivers broken down on the busy roads this Easter won't have to wait hours while they try to negotiate hefty traffic jams because they'll be flitting through the skies.
The development of 'park & fly' - a huge innovation in the AA's 105-year history - comes after secret trials at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford.
The specially-designed jetpacks are so lightweight and easy-to-use they require no pilot's licence, and can set off and touch down with amazing precision.
Reaching top speeds of 60mph, the AA Rocketmen are fitted with a parachute in case of emergencies.
Edmund King, AA president, said the revolutionary move means patrols will no longer have to battle congested roads to reach drivers.
He said: "We are always looking at ways to get to our members quicker. Congestion is a growing problem particularly in urban areas, at Bank Holidays and in poor weather conditions.
"AA Rocket Man will help us reach parts that other breakdown organisations cannot reach AA Rocket Man will help us reach parts that other breakdown organisations cannot reach.
"We are talking to the Government to get permission for 'jetpack hard-shoulder running' so that patrols can land on the hard-shoulder."
AA future technologies strategist, Dr Raif Lopol, explained: "Despite advances in Jet Pack Technology (JPT), it is unlikely at this stage that AA patrols will actually 'patrol the skies' – fuel costs make that impractical.
"It is more likely that the AA patrol will employ the 'park & fly' system, whereby the AA patrol van parks within one mile of the stricken member and the jetpack is then launched from the rear of the van."
Stewart Topp, AA Patrol of the Year, added: "Our motorbike patrols in major cities have been a great success but they are still affected by traffic and accidents, so by literally going as the crow flies, we'll be able to shave minutes off our arrival times.
"The initial test flights have gone well – we've struck a good balance between stability and manoeuvrability – and we're working on an ultra-lightweight toolkit that should allow us to do most 'quick fix' repairs. Obviously, we won't be able to do any towing but the benefits more than outweigh this – it will be nice not worrying about potholes, for a start."
