Hyundai Motor Group, Coventry City Council, and the UK government have all partnered with Urban Air Port to launch the world’s first fully-operational hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, simply named Air One.
Urban Air Port, a London-based aerospace firm which develops fully autonomous zero-emission infrastructure for future air mobility, was selected as the winner of the UK Government’s Future Flight Challenge, an award designed to help develop and support aviation infrastructure and systems for the next generation of electric and autonomous air vehicles.
The Air One hub will be the world’s first “pop up” urban airport and charging hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which include cargo drones and air taxis, and is set to be launched in Coventry later this year.
The Air One electric aircraft hub boasts a physical footprint 60% smaller than that of a traditional heliport – the most comparable existing infrastructure for reference – and uses module construction that means the site can be installed in a matter of days.
Emitting net-zero carbon emissions and able to be operated completely off the grid, Urban Air Port’s hubs, therefore, do not necessarily require a suitable grid connection, opening up the possible locations for development.
“Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs will need Urban Air Ports,” said Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban Air Port.
“Over a hundred years ago, the world’s first commercial flight took off, creating the modern connected world. 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.”
