Prime Minister launches future flight challenge

The £300m Future Flight Challenge was launched today by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, committing Government support to UK Aerospace industry development of new technology.

Announced as part of the Aerospace Sector Deal agreed between Government and industry in December 2018, the Future Flight Challenge receives £125m from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and industry investment of up to £175 million.

The Challenge will support the development of advanced new aerospace technologies such as electric propulsion systems that will reduce the environmental impact of flying, and major new innovations in urban air transport..

ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said:

"The Future Flight challenge will help UK industry to maximise the opportunity of developing and manufacturing the cleaner, quieter and more technologically advanced aircraft of tomorrow.

"Our innovative aerospace industry is set to fast-track the electrification of flight, explore the global potential of new urban mobility solutions and pioneer autonomous aviation.

"This new era of technological progress in aviation will help to both tackle global environmental challenges and create new industrial opportunities that can bring prosperity to communities across the UK."

The Global Urban Air Summit in Farnborough on 3 and 4 September will bring industry together with regulators and others to discuss some of these new technologies.

The first Future Flight Challenge competition, to create compelling concept studies will open on 30 September 2019.