Green light for first UK flying taxi base

Grant Prior 8 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

Comment: Gateway is acting like a barricade

Contractors left banging their heads on an (unbuilt) brick wall
21 hours ago

Final phase of £1.5bn Elephant and Castle revamp hits planning

Get Living submits revised plan for 500 homes and 450-bed student block
2 days ago

Ealing backs final phase of £1.3bn estate rebuild

Friary Park estate rebuild in Acton reaches end stage
21 hours ago

Green light for scaled-down Nottingham student tower

Glasshouse Street scheme will deliver 247 student rooms
21 hours ago

Aston Villa to revamp North Stand

Club to reuse existing structure rather than complete rebuild
2 days ago

Mace signs ex-ISG director to lead Euro health and tech push

Gary Sweeney to head up healthcare and life sciences consultancy arm
20 hours ago

Sir Robert McAlpine claws way back into profit

Firm says return to profit and strong cash balance validates new strategy
2 days ago

Severfield to cut staff by 6% amid pricing pressure

Steelwork contractor warns of extended tighter pricing due to project delays
2 days ago

JRL completes sale of 50% stake to Malaysian giant IJM

Deal boosts balance sheet and kicks starts growth plan
2 days ago

Green light for £100m Liverpool Baltic station build

Enabling highway works to start in the autumn
3 days ago

First live tests for flying construction robots

Drones can lay construction materials at height on site
2 days ago

Three firms land £170m Gentoo Sunderland housing deal

PHS Solutions, Esh and RE:GEN to deliver 10-year home upgrade plan
3 days ago

Gateway gridlock hits build-to-rent delivery as starts nosedive

Build to rent starts plunge 18% in the capital
3 days ago

Call to shift Gateway 2 checks to end building bottleneck

"The current system isn't working but we all want to see safe buildings"
3 days ago

GBN launches £600m bid race for SMR engineer roles

Owner engineers to provide technical and assurance services
3 days ago

Wates hires ex-Homes England chief to head public sector push

Robert Stone to spearhead its public sector and national frameworks strategy
3 days ago

Acheson Construction collapse costs suppliers £8.5m

One frustrated creditor seized a telehandler after contractor went into administration
4 days ago

Dominus wins go-ahead for 173-bed Glasgow scheme

Old Wynd Street job expected to cost around £25m to build
4 days ago

Safety Regulator misses deadline to clear Gateway 2 backlog

Investors pulling out of funding high rise buildings
4 days ago

CITB still sitting on £95m cash pile

Staff numbers jump from 666 to 763 as training body wage bill soars
4 days ago

£500m road surfacing framework market call

NEPO goes out to consultation on north east regional highways deal
4 days ago

Two share £220m Scottish rail repairs and minor works deal

AmcoGiffen and CPMS win civils and building repair deals
4 days ago

Builder wanted for £60m London leisure and flats job

Tower Hamlets aims to replace St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell
4 days ago

Contractor confirmed for business park expansion

Roe Developments to start on next phase of Castle Donington scheme
4 days ago

Driver escapes injury as scaffold collapses onto van

Major three-lift scaffold fall blocks north London high street
1 week ago

Gilbert Ash to be sold to staff

£267m turnover contractor to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust
1 week ago

M Group seals biggest-ever deal with Telent takeover

Digital infrastructure specialist deal lifts turnover to £3bn
1 week ago

Aggregates firm Ashville went down owing more than £3m

Debts revealed in Companies House update
1 week ago

Cardo saves 100 jobs at Breyer roofing arm

Private equity-backed Welsh maintenance group continues to expand
1 week ago

Excavator knocked off lorry going under bridge

Traffic Commissioner inquiry after accident in south London
1 week ago

Contractor services