The government has announced over £20 million of funding intended for commercial and emergency service drone operations and eco-friendly flying taxi services.
According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the funding will unlock barriers to growth and maximise opportunities for better and cheaper public services while cutting carbon emissions.
The investment is expected to advance aviation tech to support healthcare for the NHS, assist police forces in combatting crime, help inspect and survey critical infrastructure and unlock delivery services for businesses and communities across the country. 
Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said: “I want the UK to have the most advanced aviation technology ecosystem in the world.
“That means creating a nimble regulatory environment and a culture of innovation so everyone can benefit from cutting-edge transport while tackling emissions, traffic and potentially saving lives.
“Our investment alongside the new Future of Flight industry group will bring together tech experts, drone operators, flying vehicle manufacturers and local communities to identify where change needs to happen.”
Just last month Virgin Atlantic announced plans to launch flying taxi services across the UK, offering short-range regional and city connections from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs at Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
No date was officially set by Virgin on when this service will be available however as part of the government’s ‘Future of Flight’ plan it forecasts flying taxis and emergency service drones by 2028.
Part of the funding was also confirmed to support the regulatory pathway to set out how the DfT, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will streamline regulatory processes to support the commercialisation of the industry.
This includes consulting on the mandatory use of new electronic conspicuity standards and technologies, which allow aircraft to share their location electronically, helping drones and crewed aircraft fly safely alongside each other.
By making approvals quicker and operations more efficient, Ministers believe this will open new opportunities for the industry while maintaining the highest safety standards.