UK's first vertiport testbed in Oxfordshire moves closer
Ground has been broken at the UK's first vertiport testbed, which is due to be completed early next year.
The milestone was celebrated by Skyports Infrastructure, which builds and operates take-off and landing infrastructure for air taxis, and partners with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger and cargo vehicle makers around the world and Bicester Motion - the 444-acre future mobility park in Oxfordshire.
Once complete, the facility will test electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight operations, ground infrastructure, and air traffic management and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK.
It is being constructed on a plot of 0.42 acres and includes a 160 sq m passenger terminal.
Daniel Geoghegan, the CEO of Bicester Motion, said: "It’s great to see Skyports’ vertiport being built right here in Bicester.
"Once complete, it will support vertical take-off and landing aircraft testing as part of advanced air mobility innovation.
"We’re proud to support this vertiport testbed as part of our strategic vision to integrate both traditional and vertical aviation operations from our airfield and boost pioneering future mobility discovery."
Duncan Walker, CEO at Skyports, added: "With spades in ground and the site beginning to take shape, today we are one step closer to delivering our vertiport at Bicester Motion.
"Our thanks to the project and construction teams for their work so far and we look forward to opening the facility in a few months’ time to continue our efforts to develop and scale electric air taxi services."
The vertiport facility is a key component of the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium, which is funded by the UK Government’s Future Flight Challenge.
The consortium is a group of leading British aviation, technology and transport companies demonstrating the feasibility of a UK Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem using emission-free eVTOL aircraft.
Its members include Vertical Aerospace, AtkinsRéalis, Skyports and NATS, along with Connected Places Catapult and leading academic institutions Cranfield University and WMG - University of Warwick.
Bicester Motion is home to more than 50 pioneering mobility businesses which collectively contribute in excess of half a billion pounds to the UK economy.
Companies include NEOM McLaren Electric Racing, Motorsport UK, the governing body of British Motorsport, Polestar’s UK HQ, and record-breaking synthetic fuel manufacturer Zero.
