Hyundai Passenger Drones Need Urban Infrastructure: Urban Air Port® Air-One® is the eVTOL Operational Hub

Hyundai passenger drones are supposed to be commercialized by 2028 – but they’ll need urban infrastructure to get off the ground.  Now, that infrastructure is under development in the UK. Urban Air Port^® Air-One^® has been chosen to “develop aviation infrastructure and systems that enable the next generation of electric and autonomous air vehicles” as part of the UK Future Flight Challenge, receiving a £1.2 million grant.    Urban Air Port is also supported by the Urban Air Moiblity Division of Hyundai Motor Group, who has chosen Urban Air Port as their infrastructure partner for Hyundai passenger drones.

Described as “the world’s smallest airport,” Air-One^® is “a world-first fully-operational hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – such as cargo drones and air taxis,” says a press release.

Decarbonization of Cities

An Urban Air Port is 60% smaller than a traditional heliport, which the company says is the most comparable existing infrastructure. “Using innovative construction, the sites can be installed in a matter of days, emit net zero carbon emissions and can be operated completely off-grid, meaning they do not always have to rely on a suitable grid connection.”

The approach is not just about urban air mobility, but about multi modal transportation designed to contribute to clean transportation.  “Urban Air Port^® provides an integrated approach to the decarbonisation of cities. It is designed to support any eVTOL aircraft and complements other modes of sustainable transport as a hub for electric vehicles, buses or scooters,” says the release. Urban Air Ports^® are designed to be easily set up and transported: which means they can be deployed for disaster response. “Urban Air Ports^® can rapidly deploy drones and other eVTOL to collect and transport emergency supplies, equipment and people where needed.”

Urban Air Port^® develops fully autonomous innovative zero emission infrastructure for future air mobility. The ambitious Air-One^® project will bring industry, government and the public together to demonstrate how to unlock the potential of sustainable urban air mobility to reduce congestion, cut air pollution and holistically decarbonise transport while providing seamless passenger journeys and deliveries.

From Futuristic Flight of Fancy to Clean, Urban Air Transport

“Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs will need Urban Air Ports. Over a hundred years ago, the world’s first commercial flight took off, creating the modern connected world. Urban Air Port^® will improve connectivity across our cities, boost productivity and help the UK to take the lead in a whole new clean global economy.

“Flying cars used to be a futuristic flight of fancy. Air-One^® will bring clean urban air transport to the masses and unleash a new airborne world of zero emission mobility,” Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban Air Port^®, said.

“As we advance our eVTOL aircraft programme, development of supporting infrastructure is imperative,” said Pamela Cohn, Chief Operating Officer for the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group.  “Air-One^® is a unique project that is set to help lead the way in developing a robust, accessible and intermodal infrastructure network for future mobility. We are excited to be part of this partnership in the UK, and look forward to working together to create community impact and opportunity through safe, affordable, and human-centred mobility solutions.”