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Framework for Future Flight in the UK: Principles from a Deliberative Public Dialogue
This report explores public attitudes towards Future Flight technologies: drones, eVTOLs, and regional air mobility. Using data from a public dialogue of 43 participants over a series of 7 workshops, delivered by Thinks Insight & Strategy with support from UKRI’s Sciencewise programme, the research identifies key principles for the safe and successful implementation of Future Flight technologies.
The Future Flight Challenge (FFC), delivered by Innovate UK and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is a £300 million four-year challenge funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), aiming to position the UK as a world leader in the third aviation revolution.
Alongside a wider programme of social science research funded by the Challenge, UKRI/Innovate UK commissioned this dialogue, which was led by the Future Flight Challenge Social Science Research Director and team based at the University of Birmingham. The dialogue was supported by UKRI’s Sciencewise programme and delivered by Thinks Insight & Strategy.
Approach
This dialogue aimed to understand public views on the potential future operation of three Future Flight technologies with the UK. These were:
- Non-passenger-carrying drones
- Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicles (eVTOLs)
- Electric/hydrogen Regional Air Mobility (RAM).
It aimed to understand the publics’ hopes and fears around Future Flight technologies, systems and services as well as their expectations for regulation and decision-making.
The dialogue engaged 43 participants from across the UK over a series of 7 workshops, selected to be reflective of the diversity of the UK. Participants initially discussed existing transport and delivery services, moving on to the three Future Flight technologies and their potential uses. They then heard from specialists on the topics they were most interested in, before finally developing and refining principles they wanted to underpin the deployment of Future Flight.
