UK. Urban-Air Port (UAP) has begun the construction of Air One, its ground-breaking infrastructure for advanced air mobility in the UK city of Coventry.
Construction of the vertiport – which will be the world’s first fully-operational hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – will be completed in time for an industry launch event which will run from 25-27 April. The event will extend to demonstrations for the public, running from 28 April to 15 May.
The commencement of construction – which is being led by principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine – was marked with a meeting on site between some of the main players responsible for bringing the landmark project to Coventry. Senior representatives from Urban-Air Port, Coventry City Council and Coventry University were present.
Among the guests was Councillor Jim O’Boyle – Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change. He said: “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.
“Our technology will enable Coventry and other cities around the country and the world to decarbonise by enabling safe adoption of cleaner mobility solutions. We are grateful to our partners, investors and the UK Government for adopting our vision and now making advanced air mobility a viable and sustainable reality” – UAP Founder & Executive Chairman Ricky Sandhu
“We’re pleased to be working with our partners at Urban-Air Port to showcase this breakthrough system, which in the near future could help to boost productivity in our towns and cities as well as supporting climate change efforts by taking vehicles off the roads.”
The building works for Air One will include a 46-metre diameter dome-shaped steel frame with tensile fabric cladding. The steel frame’s foundations will sit on top of a car park surface.
The centre of the dome structure will house a 17.5-metre diameter opening that will allow a 17-metre diameter platform lift to move up and down over a distance of 6 metres. The FATO (Final Approach and Take-off Area) platform lift will allow certified cargo drones to ascend and descend for demonstration purposes.
The dome structure’s hangar area will showcase a mock-up of a static air taxi.
Further internal functions being fitted out include an air taxi passenger lounge, a disaster emergency management and security area, a command and control area and a logistics area.
UAP Founder & Executive Chairman Ricky Sandhu 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.
“Our technology will enable Coventry and other cities around the country and the world to decarbonise by enabling safe adoption of cleaner mobility solutions. We are grateful to our partners, investors and the UK Government for adopting our vision and now making advanced air mobility a viable and sustainable reality.”
The Air One site is positioned centrally within an area that is home to approximately 400,000 people. It is close to Coventry’s main train station and intermodal transport links.
UAP has also announced that as part of its launch event for Air One it is working with the West Midlands Police (WMP) Drone Team to provide a public demonstration of unmanned aerial vehicles.
WMP’s appearance will showcase the technological innovations of Air One as infrastructure for take-off and landing and build public awareness on the benefits of drone technology for use in emergency operations.
WMP will also be providing specialist knowledge and expertise as part of UAP’s development of its concept of operations, the blueprint for the successful running of the vertiport.
Last year was a busy one for the WMP drone team, with 3,450 flights taking place across the skies of the West Midlands. Drones offer a zero-emission alternative to helicopter pursuits and when urgent support is requested. They can reach all areas of the region within minutes.
The objective is that by introducing Urban-Air Port’s network of sustainable infrastructure, it will further reduce both response times and carbon emissions.
Sandhu said: “It’s a great privilege to be working with West Midlands Police to enhance safety of our communities and set new benchmarks in how through the use of technology we can provide greater security via quicker response times with zero emissions.
“I grew up in Birmingham, so I’m delighted to be able to support West Midlands Police’s heroic efforts in keeping us safe and deploying Air One as a disaster emergency management and security hub for their demonstrations. It is a model we hope to replicate across the country as we enter a net-zero age.”
WMP Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara said: “It’s an exciting time for the development of police use of drones. As a force we receive over 2,000 emergency calls a day, so the possibility of using drones to innovate the emergency service sector is endless.
“Urban-Air Port will allow us to explore, showcase and implement what the future holds for policing the sky.”
Read our recent in-depth interview with Urban-Air Port Founder and Executive Chairman Ricky Sandhu on the potential for vertiports and the commercial opportunities that will arise from them here.
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