SKYBUS

Abstract

Drivers in the U.K lose an average of 178 hours a year due to congestion costing them nearly £8 billion in 2018\. The largest impact is seen in London, one of the most congested cities worldwide, however the overall economic impact of travel delays, including public transport delays, across the UK is colossal. This creates an increasingly obvious need for more innovative and intelligent transport systems.

The Skybus transport network, based on large electric Vertical Take-Off & Landing (eVTOL) vehicles capable of carrying between 30-50 passengers each, takes the "Park and Ride" concept into the air for mass transit over extremely congested routes eliminating the 2-Dimensional constraints of current surface transport modes including cars, trains and buses. This will not only offer direct benefits in reduced travel time at affordable fares but also reduce the congestion on current ground transport vehicles thus reducing overall travel time for all passengers travelling on these routes regardless of their chosen mode of transport.

This new transport network could offer a larger, cheaper and more accessible aerial mobility solution in the most congested urban areas for the benefit of the wider public.

A consortium of experts in aircraft manufacturing (GKN Aerospace), eVTOL infrastructure/operations (Swanson Aviation Consultancy & Pascall + Watson) and transport systems (Connected Places Catapult) has been assembled to carry out an extensive multidisciplinary study into this proposed transport system concept.

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED £345,457 £ 120,910
 

Participant

PASCALL + WATSON LIMITED £68,160 £ 34,080
CONNECTED PLACES CATAPULT £99,214 £ 99,214
SWANSON AVIATION CONSULTANCY LIMITED £225,438 £ 112,719
GKN AEROSPACE

Publications

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