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49,877
2025-10-01 to 2026-03-31
Collaborative R&D
The _HarbourLift Pilot Project_ is a groundbreaking initiative aiming to assess the feasibility of operating electric seaplane flights between key harbour towns in Devon and Cornwall. With coastal communities often facing challenges related to limited transport options, long journey times, and seasonal congestion, this project seeks to explore how zero-emission seaplanes could offer a faster, cleaner, and more sustainable alternative for regional connectivity. The project will investigate the technical, regulatory, and environmental factors involved in launching electric seaplane services in the South West. This includes evaluating aircraft performance, energy requirements, docking and charging infrastructure, and harbour suitability in locations such as Falmouth, Plymouth, Mounts Bay and the Scilly Isles. It will also explore integration with existing transport networks, such as aviation, ferries, rail, and buses. Led by Open Skies Network who will leverage existing formal relationships with local authorities, aviation experts, environmental researchers, and transport innovators, HarbourLift places community and stakeholder engagement at the heart of its approach. The project will consult with residents, harbour users, and tourism operators to understand local needs and ensure the technology is developed in a way that benefits coastal communities. Electric seaplanes present a unique opportunity to deliver low-noise, low-carbon, low-cost, short-hop travel that supports the UK's wider net-zero targets. In addition to passenger transport, the project will explore potential uses for medical logistics, parcel deliveries, and emergency response between remote locations. As one of the UK's first studies focused on electric coastal air mobility, HarbourLift aims to lay the groundwork for a new era of clean transport in maritime regions. Findings will inform future investment decisions, infrastructure planning, and policy development, helping position Devon and Cornwall as national leaders in the transition to sustainable aviation and regional air mobility.