18 March 2024 , 00:01
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Flying taxis could be spotted in the skies within two years under sci-fi-style plans which could also see drones used for crime-fighting and emergency first response.
The Department for Transport (DfT) unveiled a blueprint today for drones and novel electric aircraft, which proposes the first piloted flying taxi by 2026 - which would go driverless by 2030. It also foresees regular use of crime-fighting drones and critical 999 care deliveries by the end of the decade.
Police forces are set to trial new technology, first confirmed by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his recent Budget, which would see the remote controlled devices dispatched to gather info. Adopting technology "once confined to the realm of sci-fi" could provide a £45 billion boost to the economy by 2030 by using the tech to save time and money, according to the DfT.
Aviation and technology minister Anthony Browne said: "Cutting-edge battery technology will revolutionise transport as we know it - this plan will make sure we have the infrastructure and regulation in place to make it a reality. From flying taxis to emergency service drones, we're making sure the UK is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transportation, improving people's lives and boosting the economy."
Flying taxis are already being tested out by the Civil Aviation Authority watchdog and have been made possible thanks to rapid advances in battery technology, meaning they are light enough to stay in the air and powerful enough to cover the distances needed.
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West Midlands Police has already been using drones to tackle violent crime and anti-social behaviour and it will be trialled by other forces, including Norfolk Police. In July 2023, a drone team in the West Midlands identified two offenders and another suspect at a speed and distance that would have taken ground officers hours to track down.
Drones have also been used in the NHS to speed up deliveries. Skyfarer, a drone provider, has partnered with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Medical Logistics UK to test drones to deliver surgical implants and pathology samples between sites.
Sophie O'Sullivan, CAA head of future safety and innovation, said: "Aviation stands on the cusp of its next, potentially biggest, revolution since the invention of the jet engine. Drones, eVTOL[electric vertical take-off and landing], and other different vehicles have the potential to change transportation options forever."