Coventry has been selected to host the world's first airport for electric aircraft (eVTOL) which is also set to include facilities for delivery drones and air taxis.
Coventry has been selected to host the world's first airport for electric aircraft. Credit: Urban Air Port Ltd
The project has been spearheaded by UK-based small (Six Miles Across London) in coordination with Hyundai, Coventry City Council and the UK government.
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Dubbed Air One, the project is the winner of the Future Flight Challenge, hosted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), for £125 million in investment for green flight with the potential to reduce congestion and air pollution.
The project received 1.2 million in funding from the UKRI's challenge, alongside £125 million from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and is expected a further £175 million from the industry.
The physical footprint of the project is 60% smaller than a traditional heliport and can be installed in a matter of days, emit zero carbon emissions and can be operated completely off-grid.
The site is due to launch later this year, with ambitions to set up hundreds of sites to meet global demand.
Cities across the UK and abroad have already expressed interest in hosting future eVTOL sites.
Ricky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban Air Port, said: "Urban Air Port will improve connectivity across our cities, boost productivity and help the UK to take the lead in a whole new clean global economy. Flying cars used to be a futuristic flight of fancy. Air One will bring clean urban air transport to the masses and unleash a new airborne world of zero-emission mobility."
Hyundai has teamed up with the project as part of a plan to expand into its own eVTOL systems by 2028.
Pamela Cohn, COO of Hyundai's urban flight division, said: "As we advance our eVTOL aircraft programme, development of supporting infrastructure is imperative. Air-One® is a unique project that is set to help lead the way in developing a robust, accessible and intermodal infrastructure network for future mobility.
"We are excited to be part of this partnership in the UK, and look forward to working together to create community impact and opportunity through safe, affordable, and human-centred mobility solutions."
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