Comment: UK can lead in air mobility with future of transport pilot

The Future of Flight Action Plan, set out by the UK government in March this year, outlines plans to put enhanced air mobility in place in the UK by 2030. This ambitious goal has the potential to put the UK at the forefront of a new sub-sector in aviation, prioritising the creation of infrastructure and investment in new technology that will be required to make it a reality.

The strategy focuses on the development of sophisticated aviation technologies such as air taxis with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) systems and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), often known as drones. By incorporating these into existing aviation networks around the country, the strategy paves the way for more environmentally friendly, accessible and speedier short-trip air travel and urban delivery vehicles.

The Future of Flight Action Plan promises exciting development potential for the UK, but with major progress needed to close the skills, infrastructural and technology gaps, what needs to be done to bring its potential to life?

Infrastructure-based development support

A key point addressed in the government’s plan is the need to improve air mobility infrastructure by establishing a nationwide network of vertiports. These dedicated hubs for drones and air taxis are intended for vertical take-off and landing; they also provide charging and maintenance services. These vertiports must be positioned in both rural and urban locations to ensure maximum accessibility and effectiveness throughout the country.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) held consultations on vertiport design ideas at the UK's operational aerodromes. Although the discussions closed in March 2024, it could take some time for the suggestions that followed to be released and put into practice. Nevertheless, in order to fulfil the government's deadline specified in the Future of Flight Action Plan, this procedure will be crucial.

These vertiports would require an air traffic management system that is capable of handling both manned and unmanned flights. AI technology is crucial to this management system because it offers the real-time data processing power needed to oversee mixed-use airspace.

Taking a page from automotive’s book

The car industry has set an example that aerospace can learn from. For over ten years, cars with autonomous navigation capabilities - which use sensors and sensor fusion technologies like radar, LiDAR and camera systems - have been on the road. These allow automobiles to perceive and comprehend their surroundings, adapting to real-time input. In order to ensure safe urban air transportation, similar sensor systems can be employed in drones and air taxis, where precise navigation and hazard identification are essential.

Sensor fusion and deep learning approaches have been used by the automotive industry to improve the vehicle's decision-making capabilities more consistently. Autonomous urban aircraft that adopt this model would be better equipped to handle intricate flight patterns, adjust to changing conditions while in the air and safely communicate with other aircraft.

Operational capabilities and technology

AI and digital twin technologies will be crucial in enabling this kind of transformation to be completed in such a short amount of time.

In several industries, including aerospace and defence, AI is already improving decision-making procedures and operational effectiveness. AI can optimise flight paths for air taxis, resulting in increased efficiency and decreased likelihood of traffic jams or congestion. It does this by assessing large amounts of data, including meteorological data, traffic patterns and real-time situational monitoring.

This ability extends to air traffic control, where AI can help in automating procedures and provide suggestions for speed and altitude changes to maintain safe aircraft separations and anticipate possible bottlenecks. AI technology may also help with aircraft maintenance by predicting possible breakdowns before they happen and assisting in the implementation of predictive maintenance programmes based on sensor data and maintenance logs.

While keeping costs under control and moving quickly towards the 2030 deadline, the application of digital twin technology to the development and testing of air taxis and UAS drones has the potential to give considerable improvements for real-world modelling. Using a variety of sensors and systems aboard the real aircraft, digital twin technology can also be linked into development data to enable real-time monitoring and simulation.

In addition to its benefits for troubleshooting and predictive maintenance, this technology also helps to speed up the development of new urban air mobility solutions while enhancing their safety and effectiveness.

Rules and regulations

In the UK, regulations governing eVTOL-enabled air transportation are already in existence. The Special Conditions-VTOL (SC-VTOL) regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have been adhered to by the CAA in order to certify eVTOL aircraft. With the help of these regulations, the UK would be able to manufacture and operate eVTOL aircraft with a high degree of safety.

Under UK law, UASs are categorised into groups under the CAA's regulatory framework, each of which has specific safety, identifying and operational criteria. Additionally, it outlines certain obligations on the part of distributors, importers and producers to guarantee market conformity and high safety standards.

More than just employment opportunity

This advancement in UK aerospace operations would require modern technology to make it possible, but putting it into practice would also require a new class of highly qualified workers.

Programmes for training and education would need to change to incorporate courses specifically designed for this business in data analysis, cybersecurity, engineering and aviation technology. The objective should be greater than simply filling roles. To position the UK as a global leader in advanced air mobility, these workers should be encouraged and enabled to innovate and lead.

According to the Future of Flight Action Plan, UAS and eVTOL technology could boost the UK economy by up to £45bn by 2030. Benefits to productivity and cost savings would result from this in a number of industries, including public services, offshore energy and commerce. Furthermore, by 2040, the socioeconomic advantages of enhanced air mobility - which include cost savings - may total between £1bn and £2bn yearly.

The UK is expected to have significant population expansion in the next few decades, which may require the development of modern air mobility technology, infrastructure, and a workforce. Digital twins and artificial intelligence would help to make this breakthrough a reality. We might all be using drone delivery and flying taxis sooner than you might expect if we can keep that progress going.

Jeff Hoyle, EVP of Aero, Space and Defence at Expleo