Green light for first UK flying taxi base

Grant Prior 3 months ago
Share

Construction will start this Autumn on the UK’s first “vertiport” for flying taxis.

Skyports Infrastructure has unveiled designs for the centre in Oxforsdshire alongside partners Bicester Motion after the 444-acre future mobility estate in Bicester received planning permission from Cherwell District Council.

The images show the vertiport positioned adjacent to Bicester Motion’s existing general aviation grass runways, where it will continue the airfield’s long history of aerospace innovation.

The vertiport will include a compact 160 sq. m passenger terminal which will be a critical facility for testing ground infrastructure and flight operations and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK.

The new designs showcase Vertical’s latest VX4 prototype, which will be the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to fly at the Skyports vertiport.

The VX4 is designed to be piloted, carry four passengers and has a range of up to 100 miles. The aircraft successfully completed its first tethered piloted flight in July and is now progressing through its robust piloted test flight programme.

Vertical will use the Skyports vertiport to conduct demonstration flights and test key procedures ahead of commercial launch.

Duncan Walker, chief executive, Skyports said: “With the green light from Cherwell District Council, now begins the exciting stage in vertiport development: building it.

“The tests and trials we conduct at this facility will be instrumental to the future of quiet, electric, vertical flight. Our vertiport at Bicester Motion will facilitate important learnings and demonstrations that advance the adoption of AAM. We are proud to be playing a pioneering role in shaping the future of this exciting industry in the UK.”

Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive, Bicester Motion said: “This is a significant moment for Bicester Motion and the future of aviation here. The former RAF Bicester was born in a period of intense technological innovation and played its role in 1938 when the Halifax prototype L7244 flew its maiden trial flights from Bicester.

“Today, we continue to welcome aircraft from all eras including new mobility technologies to provide a viable future for our historic airfield through such pioneering partnerships as Skyports. The vertiport green light enables us to continue to host such aviation innovation and advance a world where sustainable and accessible electric aviation is in reach for all, with Bicester Motion at the centre.”

 

Latest news

JRL close to deal on sale of stake to Far Eastern buyer

Equity sale plan to strengthen balance sheet and improve liquidity
1 day ago

ISG collapse brings down glazing contractor

All staff made redundant at Vitrine Systems Limited
21 hours ago

Cost of HS2 bat shed hits £100m

Construction costs revealed for Sheephouse Wood Bat Mitigation Structure
22 hours ago

Groundworks firm Corbyn files administration notice

Court notice lodged by £33m-turnover contractor
1 day ago

Vistry takes another £50m hit on build cost blunders

Second profit warning but problems contained in one division
1 day ago

Watkin Jones go-ahead for Leeds co-living project

Firm will convert former office block Headrow House into 230 homes.
1 day ago

United Utilities hunts for ground investigation specialists

£170m five-year framework deal out to tender
1 day ago

WSP names new chief for UK and Ireland

Paul Reilly promoted to UK president after just over two years at consultant
1 day ago

£125m cash injection for infrastructure at Barking Riverside

Home England funded works to boost 20,000-home development in east London
2 days ago

Subcontractors wanted across the North West

Register now to meet major buyers at Manchester event
1 day ago

Management buyout at joinery specialist TMJ Interiors

Founder James Taylor hands over reins to directors
2 days ago

Guinness Partnership starts race for £1bn housing deal

Housing association to renew preferred firms for 15-year housing retrofit programme
2 days ago

Rockwool plans new factory to ramp up output

Stone wool maker plans second factory in Midlands
3 days ago

McAleer & Rushe wins London City 670-room student job

Dominus confirms builder for 65 Holborn Viaduct
2 days ago

Electrician caught abusing covid loans

Middlesbrough spark subject to seven years of stringent bankruptcy restrictions
2 days ago

Wates hires Bouygues chief as MD for residential arm

Phillippa Prongue will replace Helen Bunch who retires
3 days ago

Civils powers on but house building falters

Buyers report "solid output growth" despite decline from record September
3 days ago

Multiplex tops October contracts league

£300m Glasgow Uni win tops big new orders
3 days ago

Key industry rebar supplier loses fight to stop factory closure

Kent rebar facility supplying 30% of UK rebar set to close
3 days ago

Vital Energi/Hemiko JV to build £1bn heat network for Westminster

Heat captured from the River Thames, Tube and sewers to warm Parliament
3 days ago

Plans in for Birmingham 300-bed student scheme

China Quarter stepped project will rise to 15 storeys
3 days ago

United Living looking to continue expansion

Record results as infrastructure and property spending flows
3 days ago

Paralysed builder stranded on floor for six hours after fall

Court hears how contractor failed to properly plan housing job
3 days ago

Network Rail scales back Liverpool Street station scheme

Architect changed and developer Sellar dropped as £1.5bn original plan scrapped
4 days ago

Muse JVs with pension fund insurer to build 3,000 homes

New Habiko business will build affordable low carbon, rental homes
4 days ago

£1.3bn revamp plan for South London shopping centre

Landsec plans 1,700 homes at Lewisham shopping complex site
4 days ago

Network Plus names new chief executive

Kevin Fowlie steps up to succeed founder Dan Holland
4 days ago

TanRo lands latest Clowes business park

Groundworks due to start in new year at 31-acre Harrier Park site
4 days ago

New consultant buys M&E specialist TACE

Contollo Group has ambitious growth plans over next five years
4 days ago

Skanska signs £197m deal for Mayfair offices job

South Molton job consists of two big office buildings
5 days ago

Contractor services