Atkins to assess plans for electric air taxis in South West England
Atkins is to assess plans to introduce electric air taxis in south west England.
Trials could begin as early as 2023, following the award of a £2.5M grant from government to assess the plans.
Atkins will work with Vertical Aerospace and the West of England Combined Authority to assess the feasibility of introducing electric air taxis in the area.
The project was awarded partial funding through the government’s Future of Flight Challenge, which was created to find innovative methods of achieving greener air transport, finding new ways to travel, increasing mobility, improving connectivity and reducing congestion.
Flying taxis could be taking to the skies in the UK as soon as 2023. Vertical Aerospace has become the first company in the UK to build and flight test the vertical take-off and landing, drone-style aircraft. The project has today received a £2.5million grant to undertake a feasibility study, and those behind the idea say trials could begin in just two years’ time. Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, believes the UK could become a world leader in air taxis . James Richmond, an expert on advanced air mobility said the new technology could be a reality by 2023.
What the taxi might look like. Picture: @VerticalAero
Flying taxis could take off in South West by 2023 27 Jan 2021
Professional Engineering
Vertical Aerospace s VA-1X vehicle is designed to hold one pilot and four passengers, with a range of 100 miles at 150mph Flying taxis could carry passengers over the South West of England by 2023, after a consortium investigating their deployment received new government funding.
The group, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace, received an industrial research grant for the £2.5m project.
Led by Atkins, it is expected to take 18 months and will include an assessment of the demand for air taxi services in the South West. It will also develop use cases for the technology and evaluate its integration and impact on the wider transport network, including the region’s airports, as well as the benefits to cities and residents. The group said it will “establish viable markets and business cases for these services and
Flying taxis could be taking to the skies in the UK as soon as 2023. Vertical Aerospace has become the first company in the UK to build and flight test the vertical take-off and landing, drone-style aircraft. The project has today received a £2.5million grant to undertake a feasibility study, and those behind the idea say trials could begin in just two years’ time. Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, believes the UK could become a world leader in air taxis . James Richmond, an expert on advanced air mobility said the new technology could be a reality by 2023.
What the taxi might look like. Picture: @VerticalAero
Flying taxi drones that can travel at nearly 150mph could be taking to the skies by 2023 after the project won Government backing FLYING taxis that can travel between London and Brighton in just 30 minutes could be taking to the skies soon after the project won government backing. The giant people-carrying drones could be seen zooming above the Downs at speeds of up to 150mph if the plan takes off. At the moment, the journey takes about two hours by car or an hour by train - but the flying machines could cut down travel times massively. Vertical Aerospace has become the first company in the UK to build and flight test the vertical take-off and landing, drone-style aircraft.