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UK Invests £20 Million to Propel Drones and Flying Taxi Technologies

The funding aims to advance aviation technology, streamline regulations, and support commercialization for public and commercial applications.

Image
A Police officer uses a drone as he works outside the Arndale Centre shopping complex in Manchester, northwest England on October 11, 2019, following a series of stabbings. Police arrested a man on terror charges Friday after a mass stabbing at a shopping centre in Manchester, northwest England, that left five people injured. The man in his 40s was "lunging and attacking people" with a large knife in the Arndale shopping centre, Police Chief Russ Jackson said. The suspect was detained within five minutes and initially arrested for assault, before this was changed to an accusation of preparing and instigating an act of terrorism.
image: ©akiyoko | iStock

Overview

  • The UK government has allocated £20 million to accelerate the development of drones and flying taxis, with £16.5 million designated for regulatory advancements by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
  • The initiative includes plans to enable beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations and establish a regulatory framework for flying taxis, targeting deployment by 2028.
  • A further £5 million will go to the Future Flight Challenge to help transition new aviation technologies into profitable businesses and support industry growth.
  • Consultations are underway on mandatory electronic conspicuity standards to enhance safety by ensuring drones and aircraft can electronically share their locations.
  • Amazon has identified Darlington as the proposed site for its first UK drone delivery operations, though no launch date has been confirmed.