London - A British consortium is building the world's first advanced electric flight ecosystem. It will investigate the commercial viability of so-called Advanced Air Mobility, aiming to pave the way for air taxis to be introduced to the UK by as early as 2030. Air taxis could ease connectivity to congested urban areas.

The world’s first advanced electric flight ecosystem is being built by a British consortium including leading aviation companies Virgin Atlantic and Skyports, as well as research partners such as Cranfield University and the University of Warwick, announced a statement from Cranfield. The Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium will develop the technology and infrastructure required to advance the introduction of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in the UK. 

AAM enables “cost-effective connectivity into congested urban areas and across regions under-served by existing infrastructure”, explains the statement. To develop and test the necessary technological developments in aircraft electrification, airspace management, ground infrastructure and operational procedures, the consortium has been awarded a £9.5 million grant by the UK Government’s Future Flight Challenge. 

Gary Cutts, Future Flight Challenge Director, said in the statement: “By bringing technical developments from across the aviation industry together into one network, and undertaking early demonstration in the real world, the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium could accelerate the timescale for AAM introduction by years.” The project roadmap sets out how air taxis could be in use in the UK by as early as 2030.

According to the statement, Cranfield University’s role will focus on the required infrastructure for vertiports – a type of airport for aircraft that land and take off vertically. The research will investigate airspace operational constraints and examine passenger processing areas, times and efficiency in the establishment of AAM as a new service between cities.