Urban-Air Port (UAP) has begun the construction of Air One in Coventry, which it claims to the world’s first airport for drones and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLS).
Principle contractor Sir Robert McAlpine has begun work on the ‘vertiport’, which is set for completion in time for an industry launch event at the end of April.
Construction will include a steel frame dome with a 46 metre diameter that will be covered with tensile fabric. Other work includes the building of an air-taxi passenger lounge space, a control office, logistics area and a disaster management and security area.
UAP has claimed it will be the world’s first fully operational hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Ricky Sandhu, UAP founder, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to get Urban-Air Port’s Air One on site – this marks a unique and transformative moment where the UK positions itself as the world’s leading player in advanced air mobility.”
Coventry City Council said that the scheme would help to decarbonise transport. Jim O’Boyle – Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, added: “This is yet another way that Coventry is leading the way when it comes to transport innovation. We are right at the front of the green industrial revolution and this is a brilliant world first.”
Air One is being funded by £1.2m government grant by UK Research and Innovation’s Future Flight Challenge. The grant has been matched by South Korean firm Hyundai’s Supernal flying car division, which recently bought a minority stake in UAP.
Image: An artist’s impression of how an urban-air port might look like (Credit: UAP)
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