UK. Skyports, a leading designer, developer and operator of vertiports for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced the acquisition of a well-known London heliport.
Previously known as the Falcon Heliport, the facility is located in East London just minutes from the Canary Wharf financial district. It is one of only two operational heliports in the English capital.
The deal forms part of Skyports’ acquisition strategy of securing, developing and operating a network of vertiports to enable the transition to emissions-free aviation in the UK.
Skyports said it foresees the launch of fully electric commercial air taxis in the UK within the next few years and the heliport site will form an integral part of its ground infrastructure network.
The company said the heliport will continue its existing operations under the new name of Skyports London Heliport, serving the existing helicopter market until mid-2020s.
“The heliport provides us with an important live operating environment in which we can safely develop and test our vertiport systems, collect operational data and mature our vertiport technologies” – Skyport Head of Europe & Middle East Damian Kysely
By this time, Skyports said it anticipates repurposing and equipping the heliport with the facilities required to also enable the operation of eVTOL aircraft. The company has already started using the heliport for testing its vertiport systems.
The transition to eVTOL aircraft, which are quieter, greener and cheaper than traditional helicopters, will unlock new routes from the heliport to other parts of London and the rest of the UK.
When eVTOL aircraft become operational, passengers travelling from Canary Wharf will be able to board one at the heliport and reach most of London’s airports within 20 minutes or fly to Bristol in under 50 minutes.
Skyports Head of Europe & Middle East Damian Kysely said: “This is an exciting moment for Skyports. The acquisition demonstrates our ambition to deliver a network of operational landing sites for eVTOLs and our commitment to making the UK a leader in decarbonisation of domestic aviation.
“The heliport also provides us with an important live operating environment in which we can safely develop and test our vertiport systems, collect operational data and mature our vertiport technologies.”
Headquartered in London, Skyports has projects operating in multiple locations, including in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.
The company’s investors include Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, Groupe ADP, Irelandia Aviation and Levitate Capital.
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report is set to launch a newsletter dedicated to urban air mobility, one of the most exciting and high-potential elements of the modern global aviation sector. You can read about our move into the subject in this story here.
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