UK government sets 2026 goal for flying taxis

The UK government has published an action plan for autonomous flying taxis and emergency drones.

According to the Department for Transport’s ‘Future of Flight’ action plan, piloted electric aircraft cabs could be taking to the skies by 2026, when the first flying taxi flight is scheduled.

Regular flying taxi services are set to become available by 2028, and autonomous, pilotless, flying taxis could be in flight by 2030.

Proponents of flying taxis, which are electric, claim that the vehicles are quieter and more environmentally friendly. At present the air-borne vehicles are currently undergoing a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) authorisation process.

The government also laid out its intention to lift off regular drone deliveries by 2027 – where the aim is to allow drones to fly beyond the sight of the person controlling it.

The UK government also said it would develop standards to improve the security for drones and create a new assessment platform to authorise drones efficiently and enable the development of mini airports (vertiports) by developing certification standards and reviewing the use of existing infrastructure.

Drones are already used by the emergency services, with the UK’s NHS piloting  drones for the delivery of medicine, while telco BT trialled an in-air delivery service between two UK hospitals last year.

The West Midlands Police are also using drones to tackle violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

Capture. Provide. Prevent: How drones are being deployed by emergency services

“Drones help professional teams capture data from the sky in a safer, cheaper, smarter and greener way and, in the future, they will help transport cargo and people,” said Anne-Lie Scaillierez, CEO of UK drone trade associated ARPAS-UK.

One of seven UK-based flying taxi manufacturers benefitting from the plan is Vertical Aerospace.

“With government and business working together, we can unleash the huge economic, environmental, and social benefits of zero emissions flight globally,” added founder and CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick.