British company Urban Air Port and Korean carmaker Hyundai have today (Jan 28) unveiled plans for the world's first pop-up mobile airport for airborne vehicles, after the UK Government announced that Coventry had won its UK Research and Innovation’s Future Flight Challenge and a £1.2 million grant.
The 'Air-One' airport is set to be built in the West Midlands city, is due to be completed in November this year and will be able to accommodate flying cars, air taxis and autonomous delivery drones, according to a joint press release from the two companies.
Located in a former overflow car park, the site is set to become the world-first fully-operational hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, enabling the transportation of people and cargo across the UK.
Using innovative construction, the revolutionary Urban Air Port sites can be installed in a matter of days, emit net zero carbon emissions and can be operated completely off-grid, meaning they do not always have to rely on a suitable grid connection, according to Hyundai.
The planned sites also boast a footprint that is 60% smaller than a traditional helipad – the most comparable transportation infrastructure – and the companies plan to develop more than 200 further Urban Air Port sites in the next five years to meet global demand.
According to the statement, the Air One project aims to 'unlock the potential of sustainable urban air mobility to reduce congestion, cut air pollution and decarbonise transport while providing seamless passenger journeys and deliveries.'
Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban Air Port, said: “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.
Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs will need Urban Air Ports. 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,” Sandhu added.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “We are already a city that is helping to shape the future of electric transport and this is yet another groundbreaking project that puts Coventry at the forefront of new technologies. It highlights how the council is working alongside a range of organisations to help shape a better, greener future.”
Keyword: If cars could fly: UK city to get the world's first-ever all-electric 'Urban Air Port'