Flying taxis will take to the skies of Britain by 2028 and drones will be used to fight crime, the government says
- They can reach speeds of more than 150 miles per hour and are greener than helicopters
The government has announced that flying taxis will be flying through British airspace by 2028.
The expectation is that the vehicles will travel more than three times faster than by car.
With a speed of more than 240 km/h over a distance of up to 160 kilometers, the planes are cheaper, greener and quieter than helicopters.
Ministers will today set out ambitious plans to turn this science fiction idea into reality by overhauling current regulations and infrastructure.
The government believes there will be ‘routine’ flying taxis in the skies above us by 2028, and possibly operating without a pilot by 2030.
Flying taxis fly at speeds of more than 150 miles per hour for distances of up to 100 miles and are cheaper, greener and quieter than helicopters. The government hopes they will be in the air by 2028
Under the plans, high-tech drones will share the skies by delivering 999 supplies and tackling crime.
Although the average price of an air taxi ride is unknown, the technology is expected to boost the UK economy by £45 billion by the end of the decade.
The idea of taxis and drones flying alongside planes and helicopters in the near future is all about dramatic improvements in cutting-edge battery technology, which are now more powerful and lighter than ever before, according to Minister for Aviation and Technology Anthony Browne.
Several companies already have flying taxis – technically known as electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) – ready for use, but they are not currently licensed to operate them.
Designed by British company Vertical Aerospace, the VX4 can carry four passengers up to 100 miles at a cruising speed of 150 mph, and is much quieter than a helicopter.
A journey from Liverpool to Leeds takes just 26 minutes, compared to an hour and a half by car. Or 20 minutes from Brighton to Heathrow, which currently takes four times as long by car.
Under the Future of Flight Action Plan, the Civil Aviation Authority has been tasked with setting up a certification process so that companies can start operating the aircraft.
The government says it will also support the development of ‘vertiports’ – essentially airports for take-offs and landings that do not require a runway.
In addition, the plan outlines how drones, flown remotely, will tackle crime, save lives, deliver packages and restore infrastructure.
Several successful tests have already been carried out in controlled areas, but regulations are now needed to allow drones to be used more widely and widely.
Last year, a West Midlands Police drone team identified two perpetrators and another suspect in an operation that is said to have kept officers on the ground for hours longer. And Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust found that drones have significantly reduced delivery times of surgical implants between hospitals.
Mr Browne said: ‘The very latest battery technology will revolutionize transport as we know it. This plan will ensure we have the infrastructure and regulations to make this happen.
‘From flying taxis to emergency service drones, we’re ensuring Britain is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transport.’