- New government Future of Flight action plan launched
- First flying taxis projected for 2026, to be regular by 2028
- More drones to fight crime and aid healthcare
Flying taxis have long been the stuff of science fiction, but they could be coming closer to reality for people in the UK, as its government wants to see the first flying taxis take off by 2026.
This ambition was outlined in an ambitious new action plan, called the Future of Flight, launched by the Department for Transport (DfT), which also wants more drones to be used to fight crime.
The action plan details an aim for the first piloted flying taxi flight by 2026 and regular services by 2028. It even outlines an ambition to have demonstrations of autonomous flying taxis – so without pilots on board – by 2030.
The government says this plan can help to transform how people and goods are transported. Aviation and Technology Minister, Anthony Browne, said: “Cutting-edge battery technology will revolutionise transport as we know it – this plan will make sure we have the infrastructure and regulation in place to make it a reality.
“From flying taxis to emergency service drones, we’re making sure the UK is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transportation – improving people’s lives and boosting the economy.”
The action plan also has ambitions to utilise drone technology for life-saving applications, building on a six-month pilot where drone service provider Skyfarer partnered with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Medical Logistics UK to test drones to deliver surgical implants and pathology samples between sites. In one case, drones reliably helped cut delivery times of surgical implants between Coventry and Rugby hospitals by 70%.
Drones can also be used by Police forces to track down suspected criminals faster than officers on the ground can, the plan said. Again, pilot projects have already been successfully run and can be rolled out further.
The Future of Flight action plan also aims to enable the development of vertiports – mini-airports for drones and electric aircraft that take off vertically – by developing certification standards and reviewing the use of existing infrastructure to deliver at speed, boost safety and security and put the passenger first.
