Air One, the world’s first air station for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has opened its doors in Coventry, UK. The British company Urban-Air Port, responsible for the infrastructure of the site, said that this is the beginning of a new era of urban transport with zero emissions.
Coventry was selected for its geographic location and history of automotive and aerospace innovation. For Urban-Air Port, “it represents the ideal place to show the future of mobility”.
The company will operate the airport for at least a month. The activity will serve as a model for the more than 200 similar projects that Urban-Air plans to open around the world over the next five years to meet growing demand for eVTOL.
The advanced air mobility (AAM) market is growing and a large number of eVTOL aircraft will begin commercial operation during this decade, but the lack of adequate ground infrastructure to sustain operations remains one of the biggest obstacles to growth. sector, according to NASA.
“Air One is just the first model in our infrastructure fleet, and our backlog is not just open, it’s already growing,” said Ricky Sandhu, founder and CEO of Urban-Air Port. The company is currently working on developing airports in London, the West Midlands, the United States, Australia, South Korea, France, Germany, Scandinavia and Southeast Asia.
The new airport’s location next to Coventry railway station is intended to show how an integrated hub for eVTOL aircraft can operate in a congested urban environment. For this, several evaluations will be carried out over the next month.
Urban-Air Port’s “vertiports” are designed to serve four different markets: passenger air taxi, autonomous delivery drones, emergency management, and defense and logistics operations.
They have the ability to be deployed on short notice for aircraft to pick up and transport emergency supplies, equipment and people.
The company will generate revenue through an infrastructure-as-a-service model, allowing customers to decide what they need. They will be able to purchase infrastructure only or contract for a comprehensive service that will include site-specific design and maintenance support.
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