Future Flight Challenge

Future Flight services and enabling technologies such as AI and electric propulsion will transform how we connect people, transport goods and deliver services in a sustainable way that delivers socio-economic benefits across the UK.

About the Future Flight Challenge

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge is helping build the ecosystem needed to accelerate the introduction of advance air mobility, drones, and zero-emission regional aircraft in the UK.

Working with industry, academia, government and regulators, and stakeholders across the country, the Future Flight Challenge is co-funded by industry and the UK government to support the development of future flight services and enabling technologies such as AI and autonomy, digital communications, and electric propulsion.

The programme works across sectors to:

  • Fund and support innovative future flight projects and companies.
  • Position the UK as a global leader in advanced aviation solutions.
  • Facilitate collaboration between industry, government and regulators, and stakeholders to address issues such as public trust, community integration, and social benefits.

Project Case Studies

Future Flight Challenge Virtual Showcase

This showcase explores the aims, capabilities and achievements of projects funded by the Future Flight challenge at UK Research and Innovation.

Learn more

Statistics

Co-investment by government and industry

£300m

Co-investment by government and industry

Tonnes CO2e reduction in annual emissions from Advanced Air Mobility services

222m

Tonnes CO2e reduction in annual emissions from Advanced Air Mobility services

Jobs associated with the drone economy by 2030

650k

Jobs associated with the drone economy by 2030

Increase in GDP by 2030 from Future Flight

1.8%

Increase in GDP by 2030 from Future Flight

Landscape Map

Innovate UK Business Connect has created the world’s first advanced air mobility network, which can be explored with the Future Flight Landscape Map. Explore the map to find collaborative partners, see the breadth of investment and expertise in the UK, and gain insight into how enabling sectors such as AI and Materials are vital to Future Flight’s success in the UK. The landscape map will continue to evolve and expand over time, and you can register today for your organisation to appear on it.

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Roadmap and Vision

Compiled by leading experts from industry, academia and government, the future flight vision and roadmap sets out how zero emission air travel within and between British cities could be commonplace by 2030. It includes insight into market opportunities and challenges, analysis of how consumers will benefit from future flight, projections of how the future aviation environment will operate, and example use cases.

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Conor Chaplin

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Conor Chaplin

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Related Events and Recordings

Tue
26
Mar
2024

Cross-Sector Battery Showcase - Advancing Innovation Across Industries

09.00 - 16.00 | Leicester

Watch now
Thu
3
Aug
2023

Future Flight: Securing Investment and Showcasing your Business

12.00 - 13.00 | Online

Watch now
See all events

Related News

New study finds an appetite for Future Flight technologies if used for public good

23/07/2024

New study finds an appetite for Future Flight technologies if used for public good

A new study has found that people are likely to support new forms of aviation technologies such as drones and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) if they serve the public good.

Read more
Join UKRI's Future Flight Challenge at Farnborough International Airshow 2024

16/07/2024

Join UKRI's Future Flight Challenge at Farnborough International Airshow 2024

The UK Research and Innovation Future Flight Challenge will have a significant presence at Farnborough International Airshow 2024, one of the world’s leading global airshows connecting the aerospace and aviation industry.

Read more
More News

Future Flight Newsletter

Stay informed with the latest news from projects funded through the UKRI Future Flight Challenge, and the wider future flight industry in the UK, as well as enabling sectors such as materials, communications, and AI.

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