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.

Video 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.

Watch now

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

Our Expert

Conor Chaplin

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Related Events and Recordings

Mon
17
Jun
2024

Scaling New Heights - Investing in Future Flight

14.00 - 18.00 GMT | London

Register for this event
Thu
30
Nov
2023

Future Flight Investor Office Hours

10.00 - 12.00 | Online

Read more
See all events

Related News

Announcing the Future Flight Investment Readiness Programme 2023 cohort

23/10/2023

Announcing the Future Flight Investment Readiness Programme 2023 cohort

Launching for the first time this year, the Future Flight Investment Readiness Programme.

Read more
Reaching my Potential: women inspiring the future of aviation

22/09/2023

Reaching my Potential: women inspiring the future of aviation

Earlier this year, as part of the UK Research and Innovation Future Flight Challenge, Innovate UK launched an exciting new mentoring scheme to support women working across the aviation sector.

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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