Kate's Column - Electric: The Future of Flight?
- 28th Mar 2024
While a few years ago the idea of electric flying taxis may have seemed a little farfetched, the recent UK Government and industry’s joint Future of Flight action plan suggests that they may be taking to the skies sooner than you think.
In mid-March this year, the Department for Transport published the Future of Flight action plan which sets out the intention for the future of aviation in the UK. This document was designed and created through the Future of Flight Industry Group, founded in February 2023.
The Future of Flight Industry Group includes a variety of Government members and industry leaders. One of which is, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer at Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based manufacturer who have tested their electric powered aircraft at Cotswold Airport, which is less than 20 miles away from where I am sitting at Douglas Bader House to write this column.
Their aircraft, one of many flying taxis under development in the UK, is quiet, green and working towards UK Civil Aviation Authority certification. In a wider sense, electric aircraft and drone technology pose huge potential to boost the UK economy, with studies referred to within the Future of Flight action plan estimating the industry could be worth up to £45bn by the end of the decade. The report’s ambition does not stop there, it predicts that we could see regular flying taxi journeys as early as 2028, drone deliveries by 2027 and pilotless flying taxis by 2030.
As well as advancements in the air, there is also a need for development on the ground to ensure sustained lasting change. One business that is aiming to change how we travel is AeroVolt, who featured at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) last year. AeroVolt, founded by two brothers (Alan and Philip Kingsley-Dobson), are hoping to install electric charging stations at airfields across the country, which will ease national electric powered aircraft travel.
As part of AeroVolt’s media day at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon, attendees were shown the smart chargers proposed to power electric aircraft and were able to speak to members of the team as they set out their ambition to be at the forefront of electric aviation. After welcoming AeroVolt to RIAT last year, we are excited to say they will be returning this July as part of our Techno Zone® so be sure to grab yourself a ticket and visit.
As always, thank you for the continuous support, have a good Easter break and I look forward to touching base next month.
