Method and system for controlling safe takeoff and landing of pilotless vertical takeoff and landing (vtol) aircraft

A pilotless vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising:

• a passenger cabin with a secure door;
• an onboard computer, wherein the onboard computer is configured to control a pre-takeoff passenger safety procedure for the VTOL aircraft by:
• receiving authentication information from each of one or more passengers attempting to enter the passenger cabin of the VTOL;
• authenticating each of the one or more passengers as an authorized passenger based on the received authentication information;
• and
• if the one or more passengers are successfully authenticated,
• allowing the one or more passengers to enter the passenger cabin;
• performing a set of onboard pre-takeoff checks to determine if the VTOL aircraft and the one or more passengers are safe for takeoff;
• and
• in response to determining that the VTOL aircraft and the one or more passengers are safe for takeoff, further confirming readiness of each of the one or more passengers for immediate takeoff.

A computer-implemented method for performing a safe landing procedure for a pilotless vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft at the end of a flight, the method comprising:

• issuing a pre-landing notification to one or more passengers onboard the VTOL aircraft indicating that the VTOL aircraft will be landing shortly;
• and
• upon landing the VTOL aircraft on the ground or a landing pad,
• notifying the one or more passengers that the flight is completed;
• unlocking a cabin door of the VTOL aircraft;
• determining if all of the one or more passengers have exited the VTOL aircraft;
• and
• in response to determining that the one or more passengers have exited the VTOL aircraft,
• locking the cabin door;
• and
• controlling the VTOL aircraft to return to the hangar or navigate to the next service pickup location.