Bicester Motion and Vertical Aerospace Join Forces to Advance Electric Aviation
Skyports Infrastructure, a leader in vertiport infrastructure for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry, has revealed the designs for the UK’s first permanent vertiport testbed. This initiative, developed in partnership with Bicester Motion and Vertical Aerospace, marks a significant step forward for the electric air taxi industry in the UK.
Vertiport Testbed Gains Planning Permission
The vertiport, located adjacent to Bicester Motion’s existing grass runways in Oxfordshire, recently received planning permission from Cherwell District Council. This approval makes it the first permanent vertiport infrastructure in the UK to secure such consent. The vertiport will be a pivotal facility for testing ground infrastructure and flight operations, facilitating the development of the next generation of electric, low-noise aviation.
The vertiport will feature a compact 160-square-meter passenger terminal, designed to support a range of testing activities. The facility will also play a critical role in advancing the adoption of AAM technologies across the country. Duncan Walker, Chief Executive of Skyports, highlighted the significance of this development: “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.”
Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 Aircraft to Lead Testing
The newly released designs for the vertiport showcase Vertical Aerospace’s latest VX4 prototype, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The VX4, which can carry four passengers and has a range of up to 100 miles, will be the first aircraft to operate from the Skyports vertiport. Vertical Aerospace plans to use the facility to conduct demonstration flights and test key procedures as it moves closer to a commercial launch.
Michael Cervenka, Chief Commercial & Technology Officer at Vertical Aerospace, emphasized the importance of the vertiport in advancing electric aviation: “The Skyports vertiport is a critical piece of infrastructure, helping to get our VX4 aircraft up into the air and demonstrate to the world that the future of flight is electric. The tests we carry out here in Bicester with our VX4 will advance our understanding of electric aviation and revolutionize how we travel.”
A Collaborative Effort in Aviation Innovation
The development of the vertiport is part of the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium, a group of British aviation, technology, and transportation organizations. This consortium, supported by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge, aims to pioneer AAM in the UK. The vertiport will serve as a central hub for the consortium’s wider testing program, which includes demonstration flights, ground operations, aircraft integration, and public engagement.
James Richmond, Head of Future Flight at AtkinsRéalis, which leads the Consortium, remarked on the broader impact of the vertiport: “The vertiport living lab will go beyond demonstrating flight procedures and will validate the entire ecosystem the partners have created from the ground up. Gaining planning consent was a critical milestone and provided important learning for all stakeholders involved, helping to enable and scale advanced air mobility in the UK.”
Looking Forward
Construction of the vertiport is set to begin in the Autumn, marking the start of a new chapter in the UK’s aviation history. Daniel Geoghegan, Chief Executive of Bicester Motion, reflected on the site’s legacy and future: “The former RAF Bicester was born in a period of intense technological innovation… Today, we continue to welcome aircraft from all eras including new mobility technologies… 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.”
As the vertiport takes shape, it is poised to play a vital role in shaping the future of electric aviation, not just in the UK, but globally. The collaboration between Skyports Infrastructure, Bicester Motion, and Vertical Aerospace represents a significant step forward in the journey towards a more sustainable, quiet, and efficient future in air travel.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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