Supernal and Urban-Air Port launch first functional vertiport

The 17,000ft² radial vertiport was set up in 11 weeks and has fully-outfitted passenger, security and logistics zones.

Supernal and Urban-Air Port have launched a vertiport, dubbed Air-One, for manned and unmanned vehicles in Coventry, UK.

This is claimed to be the first functional ‘multi-modal infrastructure hub’ for managing future electric air travel, such as flying taxis and autonomous delivery drones.

The 17,000ft² radial vertiport, which was set up in 11 weeks, features fully-outfitted passenger lounge, café, retail pop-up and cargo logistics hub zones.

Other zones include a hydrogen-air vehicle hangar, security screening, and command and control centre.

The zones are supported by a patented 56ft circular final approach and takeoff (FATO) platform, which elevates 19ft into the sky with the support of a compact and synchronised link-lift system to facilitate future electric air vehicle take-offs and landings.

The activation also features Supernal’s initial concept electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, called S-A1, on display in the vehicle hangar, as well as live drone demonstrations from the FATO.

Furthermore, multiple new electric vehicles (EV) are connected to EV chargers, which are driven by off-grid hydrogen fuel cells, on the vertiport’s exterior.

There are plans to launch vertiports in other cities across the globe by the end of the year.

Urban-Air Port founder and executive chairman Ricky Sandhu said: “The Coventry demonstration – delivered in partnership with Supernal – will showcase the future of how people will travel, seamlessly integrating with other modes of transport to create a greener, more connected future.”

Last October, Germany’s Munich Airport International collaborated with Urban-Air Port for the development of eVTOL ground infrastructure and airport operations.