Engineering news
An unmanned 750kg demonstrator aircraft, built by Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace, has been in the works since 2016, and completed the test flight in June at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, Gloucestershire, after being granted permission by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The company was founded by Stephen Fitzpatrick, the CEO of OVO Energy, with the aim of making air travel personal, on-demand and carbon free. It wants to offer intercity air taxi services within four years.
“Passenger numbers for short-haul flights have exploded in recent years, but as a result aviation is now a major contributor to climate change and local air pollution,” said Fitzpatrick. “Congestion around airports has become a huge problem and, for flights of 500 miles or less, we are spending more time travelling to and from the plane than we are in the air.”
He says the company has learned from Formula One, and is incorporating lightweight materials, aerodynamics and electrical systems from the sport. However, given the safety and regulatory considerations, four years is a hugely ambitious target for passenger rides.
E-Hang – a Chinese eVTOL company – promised to start passenger flights in Dubai in the summer of 2017, but these are yet to materialise.
“Aviation is among the most complex and highly regulated sectors in the world – and with good reason,” said Fitzpatrick. “Safety is and should be the number-one priority. Our first eVTOL aircraft was granted flight permission by the CAA and we are already working with the European Aviation Safety Agency to gain type certification for our next model. Regulation evolves along with new technology but it takes time. We are working alongside regulators throughout that process.”
Fitzpatrick believes the UK is well-placed to take the lead on eVTOL technology. “We have a rich heritage in aviation. World-class engineers and technical experts train and work here. We have the global outlook and entrepreneurial spirit required to develop and commercialise this technology,” he said.
“Designing and building technology with such disruptive potential could ultimately bring thousands of highly skilled jobs to the UK and secure our place at the forefront of aviation innovation.”