UK eVTOL infrastructure developer Urban-Air Port has officially opened Air-One, the world's first demonstration of a hub for flying taxis and autonomous cargo drones in the city of Coventry.
Credit: Urban-Air Port
Credit: Urban-Air Port
With backing from the UK government and additional support from air mobility specialist Supernal, Air-One will operate for "at least one month" from its site at Westminster car park in the heart of Coventry.
Urban-Air Port says that the project will set out the blueprint for over 200 planned vertiports across the world over the next five years.
Read more: Dassault Systèmes digital twin to help manage world's first vertiport
The advanced air mobility (AAM) market is set to skyrocket, with a forecast of 9% annual growth to reach $1 trillion within the next two decades. Despite this boom in the market, and the high levels of development in eVTOL vehicles beginning to enter commercial operations, the lack of ground infrastructure remains an obstacle to further growth, according to a 2018 NASA report.
Urban-Air Port said in a statement that the Air-One vertiport will be a showcase for the future of flight and will demonstrate how purpose-built ground infrastructure for eVTOL can "unleash the potential of AAM" to decarbonise transport, cut air pollution and reduce congestion.
Among the first flights operated from the site will be the local West Midlands Police force as well as drone maker Skyfarer. The former is to demonstrate the use of vertiports as "sky protection", and the latter as a showcase for high-value cargo deliveries.
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Flights of large cargo drones will also be demonstrated by UK-based drone developer, Malloy Aeronautics. It will be the first time a drone of this size has flown in such a dense and built-up urban environment.
The city of Coventry was chosen as the site for Air-One due to its accessibility. Located in the centre of the UK, the city is within four hours of most parts of the country.
Air-One vertiport, Coventry, UK. Credit: Urban-Air Port
Air-One vertiport, Coventry, UK. Credit: Urban-Air Port
"From design, through to fabrication and now into operation, Urban-Air Port has delivered Air-One in just 15 months, setting the standard for deployment globally and opening up a world of possibilities for rapid response air mobility," said Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban-Air Port.
"Air-One is just the first model in our infrastructure fleet and our order book is not only open but already growing. The interest is turning into recognition of the need for our technology and into demand."
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The company says that following the Coventry demonstration, Air-One will be redeployed to other locations in the UK and internationally to undertake demonstrations in different settings and environments.
The aim is for the vertiport to become established as a global standard for eVTOL infrastructure around the world.
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