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.

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.