Leeds Bradford Airport is set to launch a pop-up airport for delivery drones making journeys around the Leeds city region.
Startup partner Urban-Air Port, which has created the world's first drone airport in Coventry, will develop the off-grid, hydrogen-powered hub that will cater for a range of unmanned and manned aerial vehicles.
Leeds Bradford Airport said the base could also cater for vertical take off and landing (VTOL) vehicles of the type that could carry passengers in the future.
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The modular drone airports created by Urban Air-Port are compact - typically 17 metres in diameter - and feature nearby facilities needed to charge, store and maintain vehicles.
Urban Air-Port founder and executive chairman Ricky Sandhu has previously talked the cost of the hubs being between £3m-£8m.
Charles Johnson, head of planning development at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “This collaboration signifies an exciting development for the airport and highlights the ability of Yorkshire to lead on innovative infrastructure solutions.
"It’s fantastic to see how aviation and its partner industries are developing new technologies that will be essential to our future. I am looking forward to seeing how the project develops, as we continue to act as a key hub for connectivity in the UK.
Mr Sandhu added: "In putting this agreement with LBA in place, we are getting ahead of the curve for the next wave of logistics and infrastructure. We are looking forward to developing an ultra-compact, rapidly deployable, multi-functional operations hub with facilities for vehicles providing aircraft command and control, charging/refuelling, cargo, and passenger loading. This will result in a future with less vehicles on our road and more sustainable cities.”
Urban-Air Port has begun building its first Air One vertiport for passenger air taxis and logistics drones at a site in Coventry, which will be officially opened in April.
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