April 29, 2022
2 mins read

Indian-origin man makes first-ever airport for air taxis, drones

The hub for flying taxis and delivery drones is open to the public till the middle of May…reports Asian Lite News

As the buzz around flying taxis grows, an Indian-origin entrepreneur, Ricky Sandhu, has made his dream come true by demonstrating the first-ever airport for air taxis and delivery drones in the UK.

The world’s first fully-operational airport for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and drone technology, the ‘Air-One’ in the city of Coventry is currently hosting demonstrator flights.

The hub for flying taxis and delivery drones is open to the public till the middle of May, reports the BBC.

Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of the company Urban-Air Port, said that he delivered Air-One in 15 months.

“In a couple of years, the community from here can be flying to places like London within 20 minutes, saving so much time. Our job is to pave the way,” Sandhu was quoted as saying in the report.

The 18,299 sq feet facility is a “prefabricated vertiport designed for both rapid assembly and disassembly”.

Cargo loading for unmanned drones will also be demonstrated following the opening of Air One in the Westminster Road car park area.

West Midlands Police said their drones team would also be there to showcase equipment.

According to Sandhu, air taxis will be coming very soon, in about two years’ time.

Pic credits Twitter @UrbanAirPort

“But cargo drones are already flying, doing lots of deliveries not only in and around the country, but also around the world… They need a coordinated piece of infrastructure and that’s where we come in,” he added.

Urban-Air Port is developing global networks of specialist ground, air and digital infrastructure to support urban logistics worldwide.

According to the company, its drones have the exciting possibility to help reduce logistics and delivery congestion on our roads in a sustainable, eco-friendly, zero-emission way, cutting emissions by up to 47 per cent when compared to light commercial vehicles.

The ‘vertiports’ are designed to be highly flexible, catering to four different markets: Passenger air taxis, autonomous delivery drones, disaster emergency management and defence operations and logistics.

They can be operated completely off-grid using on-site hydrogen fuel cell, zero-emission generation.

Urban-Air Port said it will generate revenue through an ‘infrastructure-as-a-service’ model, enabling customers to decide the level of service they require.

ALSO READ: Orange alert issued for NW India over heatwave

Previous Story

WhatsApp into ‘cash-back campaign’ to get customer attention 

Next Story

Jaishankar lands in Bhutan

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

Reeves urged to break manifesto pledges

Chancellor under pressure as £40bn fiscal gap looms, with critics warning against a “pasty tax” budget of piecemeal revenue raisers…reports Asian Lite News Rachel Reeves is facing growing unease inside Labour’s ranks

Starmer to Visit India on Wednesday

UK and India to cement strategic ties with new free trade agreement and deeper cooperation across defence, technology and climate Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make his first official visit to India

UAE, India join on child services

The United Arab Emirates and India have opened discussions to enhance cooperation in integrated child development services, focusing on early childhood education, nutrition, and child participation initiatives. The talks took place on
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India, UK may work jointly on Sri Lanka

As Colombo recovers from its economic crisis, joint investment in

Britain promises help to extradite economic offenders

Govt says efforts are on to extradite fugitive businessman Mehul