Groundbreaking has taken place at the site of the UK’s first vertiport testbed at Bicester Motion.
Skyports Infrastructure plans to create a key facility for testing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flights.
The vertiport will have ground infrastructure, including a passenger terminal and air traffic management, and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK.
It is being constructed near Bicester Motion’s existing general aviation grass runways and is due to be completed in early 2025.
Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive of Bicester Motion, said: “It’s great to see Skyports’ vertiport being built right here in Bicester.
“Once complete, it will support vertical take-off and landing aircraft testing as part of advanced air mobility innovation. We’re proud to support this vertiport testbed as part of our strategic vision to integrate both traditional and vertical aviation operations from our airfield and boost pioneering future mobility discovery.”
Duncan Walker, chief executive of Skyports, said: “With spades in ground and the site beginning to take shape, today we are one step closer to delivering our vertiport at Bicester Motion.
“Our thanks to the project and construction teams for their work so far and we look forward to opening the facility in a few months’ time to continue our efforts to develop and scale electric air taxi services.”
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