Bicester Motion plans for UK’s first vertiport testbed approved

Bicester Motion, a future mobility estate in Oxfordshire, has been given the green light to build the UK’s first vertiport testbed for the electric air taxi industry.

The application for the new vertiport, submitted in collaboration with London’s Skyports Infrastructure, was recently approved by Cherwell District Council.

Located next to Bicester Motion’s existing general aviation grass runways, the vertiport will include a compact 160 sq m passenger terminal, which will be play a key role in testing ground infrastructure and flight operations.

Construction is due to start in the autumn.

Skyports Infrastructure has also partnered with Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering zero-emissions aviation through electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

New designs have been unveiled to showcase Vertical Aerospace’s latest VX4 prototype, which will be the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to fly at the vertiport.

The VX4 is designed to be piloted, carry four passengers and have a range of up to 100 miles.

It successfully completed its first tethered piloted flight in July and is now progressing through its piloted test flight programme.

Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive of Bicester Motion, said: “This is a significant moment for Bicester Motion and the future of aviation here.

“The former RAF Bicester was born in a period of intense technological innovation and played its role in 1938 when the Halifax prototype L7244 flew its maiden trail flights from Bicester.

“Today, we continue to welcome aircraft from all eras including new mobility technologies to provide a viable future for our historic airfield through such pioneering partnerships as Skyports.

“The vertiport green light enables us to continue to host such aviation innovation and advance a world where sustainable and accessible electric aviation is in reach for all, with Bicester Motion at the centre.”

Duncan Walker, chief executive of Skyports, added: “With the green light from Cherwell District Council, now begins the exciting stage in vertiport development – building it.

“The tests and trials we conduct at this facility will be instrumental to the future of quiet, electric, vertical flight.

“Our vertiport at Bicester Motion will facilitate important learnings and demonstrations that advance the adoption of AAM.

“We’re proud to be playing a pioneering role in shaping the future of this exciting industry in the UK.”

The vertiport is being developed as part of the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium – a group of leading British aviation, technology and transportation organisations backed by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge.

It will serve as a key node for the consortium’s wider testing programme, including demonstration flights, ground operations, aircraft integration, and public and stakeholder engagement.

Michael Cervenka, chief commercial and technology officer at Vertical Aerospace, said: “The Skyports vertiport is a critical piece of infrastructure, helping to get our VX4 aircraft up into the air and demonstrate to the world that the future of flight is electric.

“We’re excited to see what the UK’s first permanent vertiport will look like as we move into an important phase of the industry – making this real.

“The tests we carry out here in Bicester with our VX4 will advance our understanding of electric aviation and revolutionise how we travel – paving the way for zero emissions, quiet flight.”