The challenge focuses on the development of the digital and physical infrastructure, regulation and control systems required to use these new aircraft practically and safely.
These new modes of travel will increase mobility, reduce road congestion, improve connectivity, increase UK manufacturing opportunities and help reduce the environmental impact of air travel. A new report commissioned by UKRI and the Future Flight Challenge suggests potential cost savings of 20%-48% from the use cases studied.
The Future Flight programme is funded by £125m from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund which is expected to be matched by up to £175m from industry.
Opportunities
Future Flight will deliver a new revolution in aviation by bringing together technologies in electrification, digital and autonomy to create new modes of air travel and capability; enabling flying taxis, drones delivering goods and services, and small, all-electric aircraft – innovations that could address the mobility and congestion problems faced by increasingly urban, ageing populations, and reduce the carbon footprint of the global aviation system.
To deliver on the ambitions of Future Flight it will require collaboration amongst a diverse network of innovators, particularly those organisations who do not traditionally operate in the aviation sector. Future Flight needs digital innovators, business model experts, local authorities, asset owners architects, AI, regulatory experts and social scientists to list a few.
Events
Upcoming events
8 September – Workshop: Creating an Accessible Future Flight
3 August 2021 – Future Flight Challenge Ambition
23rd July 2021 – Future Flight Café: Transforming flight planning for the future aviation systems of systems
16th July 2021 – Future Flight Café: Towards an innovative drone medical delivery network
Recordings of previous events
Future Flight Café: UK’s first remote low-carbon aviation test centre
Future Flight Café: Transforming off-shore wind farm inspection using drone swarms
Future Flight Fridays: The Role of Local Authorities in Future Flight
Future Flight Café: New situational awareness technologies towards integrated UAV operations
Future Flight Fridays: Dealing with Complexity
Future Flight Fridays: Economic Benefits of Future Flight
Future Flight Fridays: Women in Future Flight
Future Flight Fridays: Air Mobility of the Future
Newsletter
Future Flight newsletter
KTN is updating the Future Flight community every few months with industry news, updates from the CAA and the Future Flight Challenge Director and showcases some of the projects funded through the first two phases of the competition. To sign up for the newsletter click here. You can access all the newsletter editions below.
Edition 2
Edition 1
Future Flight Landscape Map
KTN has launched an interactive map connecting the wide variety of UK sectors and expertise that are fundamental to the third aviation revolution.
This interactive landscape map provides insight into the capability in the UK to support the integration of new aircraft with the digital and physical infrastructure necessary for future flight. You can explore the map to find new collaborative partners and see the breadth of investment and expertise in the UK.
View the Future Flight Landscape Map
