Hyundai-backed Urban-Air Port has announced a partnership with Altitude Angel and Safe-guard Vertiports to design safe, clean and connected ‘Air Architecture’ for future electric air taxis and autonomous logistics drones in the UK. These ‘air roads’ will enable people and cargo to travel by manned and unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
This infrastructure programme, being demonstrated later this year, is supported by the UK government and is designed to unlock a future of clean urban air mobility for the UK and will provide a model for other countries to follow.
Urban-Air Port will provide multi-modal transport hubs of the future using net zero emissions and connecting air, road and rail to help unify transport networks, cut congestion and pollution
The first of more than 200 Urban-Air Port hubs worldwide will launch in 2021. The Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group has chosen Urban-Air Port as an infrastructure partner to support the global growth of this new sector.
The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, says: “Cleaner, inter-city flight technology is vital not only to reducing emissions, but to better connecting remote communities, from small towns in the UK to isolated settlements all around the world. As we build back greener from the pandemic, initiatives like the government-backed Air-One® project will help us develop the infrastructure needed to make our dreams of flying taxis a reality.”
Ricky Sandhu, Founder of Urban-Air Port, comments: “Our global transport systems are broken. Inner-city transport is congested, inefficient and polluted. In remote locations, it is either non-existent or over-priced, leaving many isolated and increasing economic disparity. But to fix this, we still look to siloed and ancient road and rail infrastructure.”
Sandhu adds: “New innovations mean we can now reimagine transport to perfectly meet the needs of people and provide a cohesive, sustainable and reliable experience. Our Air Architecture™ can unlock clean and beautiful cities and connect the world in new ways – in the air and on the ground – bringing economic prosperity, cutting emissions and improving quality of life. This is a real British innovation success story – the UK can lead the world in accelerating this transport revolution.”
Urban-Air Port has partnered with SkyFarer, the drone logistics operations and software company, and Coventry University, to demonstrate medical drone deliveries on the Air Architecture. The project will take place at the Air-One site later this year.
