Skyports Infrastructure has today unveiled designs for “the UK’s first permanent vertiport testbed for the electric air taxi industry, alongside partners Bicester Motion, the 444-acre future mobility estate in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and Vertical Aerospace,” according to the company. The images have been released as the project receives planning permission from Cherwell District Council. It is the first permanent UK vertiport infrastructure proposal to secure planning consent, says Skyports.
“The images show the vertiport positioned adjacent to Bicester Motion’s existing general aviation grass runways, where it will continue the airfield’s long history of aerospace innovation. The vertiport will include a compact 160 sq. m passenger terminal which will be a critical facility for testing ground infrastructure and flight operations and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK.”
The new designs showcase Vertical’s latest VX4 prototype; Vertical will use the Skyports vertiport to conduct demonstration flights and test key procedures ahead of commercial launch.
“The new renders also depict the interior of the vertiport, which will be equipped with Skyports’ proprietary vertiport technology solutions, including its Resource Management and Scheduling System (RMSS) and its Vertiport Automation System (VAS). Construction of the vertiport will begin in the Autumn.”
Duncan Walker, chief executive, Skyports said: “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.”
The vertiport is being developed as part of the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium: a group of leading British aviation, technology and transportation organisations pioneering AAM in the UK, backed by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge. The vertiport 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.
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