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Florida Focused on Future of Advanced Air Mobility
By Joe VanHoose, Managing Editor
In November, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Jared Purdue, Mayor of Tampa Jane Castor, and Florida and U.S. congressional leaders convened at Tampa International Airport for a test flight like no one in the state had seen before.
They witnessed the first-ever flight test of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at an operational, international airport in the U.S., and the first eVTOL test in Florida. The flight test campaign consisted of aircraft downwash and outwash testing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and performance testing in local environmental conditions.
Seeing the piloted eVTOL in the air was proof of concept for FDOT and other state leaders who have opened the state up to the advanced air mobility (AAM) market, specifically around eVTOL aircraft that may one day soon serve as flying taxis, delivery vehicles and personal flying cars.
But this wasn’t a video clip or a 3D rendering; the Volocopter 2X was flying in front of all to see.
“What’s so interesting is if you haven’t seen it with your own eyes, it’s almost like seeing is believing,” said Kim Holland, FDOT’s assistant secretary for strategic development. “It was so interesting because when it was in flight, it was quiet – more quiet than a helicopter.”
eVTOL is a new category of electric aircraft that focuses on short- to medium-range flights, transporting people and goods within or connecting to an urban environment. New manufacturers like Volocopter are aiming to start commercial services with a certified and shared air taxi service in the heart of cities around the world. Most of the eVTOL aircraft emerging in the AAM market are piloted – pilots must be certified on each new aircraft.
At some point in the future, these vehicles could carry two to eight passengers and may not require a pilot in the craft at all, flying as if they were giant drones.
“What we’re seeing with the aircrafts is that each one is unique,” Holland said. “You’ll see wings or rotors, different takeoffs and landings – some land like a helicopter and have no wheels for taxiing like a plane would.”
Many of these emerging manufacturers are testing their aircraft in Florida. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is set to serve as the hub for Lilium’s planned eVTOL air services in central Florida. In a February announcement, the European manufacturer said that operators of its six-passenger Lilium Jet will be able to use a new vertiport at MCO as a hub for flights across the state. Some companies like Doroni Aerospace have made their headquarters here.
Not every AAM vehicle is going to enter the market carrying passengers.
“Everyone imagines an Uber in the sky, but some manufacturers are entering the market to carry cargo or medical supplies – one manufacturer is looking at how they can support on the healthcare side with organ transplants,” Holland said. “Most of these vehicles are set up for shorter, regional applications. We see some applications to support some type of emergency response, whether search and rescue or firefighting, as well as rural applications like spraying and managing crops.”
Investing In AAM Innovation
FDOT started its AAM planning in 2021 with a working group with several industry partners. Agency officials listened as those partners have provided recommendations on how AAM aircraft could be implemented into Florida’s transportation system.
Earlier this year, that working group was cascaded into an advisory committee, headed by Holland, with two focus areas: engagement and education.
“We are updating our land use and guidelines handbook, and the (committee) is working on tabletop exercises,” Holland said. “In our most recent engagement together, we had the aircraft manufacturers at the table with the person managing those flights, the FAA, airports and city officials.
“We’re working through questions like, if you are onsite, where will they land, how will they charge, and how do you get passengers into the vehicles. The tabletop exercises are making sure we have safe implementation of AAM into the state.”
FDOT sees a lot of upside for supporting the innovation and emerging technologies around AAM, and for good reason. With a population boom in the last few years and 135 million annual visitors, Florida’s infrastructure will need to meet the growing demand.
In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative. As part of the initiative, FDOT identified a selection of critical needs on stateowned roadways, as well as previously approved projects with broad community support that only lacked funding to begin construction.
In all, $4 billion from the General Revenue Surplus has been dedicated to Moving Florida Forward to advance construction on these projects around the state that will address congestion, improve safety, ensure the resiliency of the transportation network, and enhance Florida’s supply chain and economic growth.
“We have monumental, historical investments in our infrastructure right now through Moving Florida Forward, but as people continue to move, we have to look broadly at how we solve congestion,” Holland said. “This is another really great option we are going to be introducing into the transportation network. We can’t rely on just building ourselves out in roadway capacity; we’ve got to provide all kinds of options.”
Keeping Up With AAM Development
There are still several steps ahead to see fully scaled eVTOL aircraft flying people around Florida, including proven safe and efficient aircraft, economic feasibility, advanced air traffic control, low noise, scaled manufacturing and maintenance, and physical infrastructure.
Florida’s AAM policy is meant to support the existing and future updates of the Florida Aviation Systems Plan by providing policy recommendations for the emerging AAM industry as it develops. For AAM to be successful, Florida’s new vertiports must be compatible with the surrounding land uses, provide for interconnectivity, and be safe and secure.
In October, Florida Secretary of Transportation Jared Perdue, an advocate for the development of a statewide system for eVTOL aircraft, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation pushing for more FAA progress with AAM.
“Unfortunately, Florida faces one roadblock to begin putting our plans into motion: the continued delay of your (FAA),” Perdue wrote. “As our global competitors continue to prioritize the enhancement of their air transportation systems and surpass the United States in the use of AAM, I implore you to act with a heightened sense of urgency on the finalization of these guidelines. For a country with an established record of leading in the aerospace sector, your Agency’s lack of initiative seeks to damage it and is detrimental to the growth of an industry that can truly revolutionize our nation’s transportation options.”
The FAA plans to release a performance based Vertiport Design Advisory Circular in 2025 to address infrastructure to accommodate the variety of aircraft and operations that fall under the AAM umbrella.
Existing FAA regulations on the development of new takeoff and landing facilities also apply to AAM infrastructure. These regulations, according to the FAA, ensure the federal agency has the information needed to evaluate the safety of a proposed takeoff and landing facility, its surrounding area, and any impacts to the existing National Airspace System.
In Florida, progress continues with other federal agencies as well. NASA has partnered with other government agencies, industry and academia to conduct AAM research to benefit a future transportation system where air taxi and drone flights are routine. In Miami, NASA and the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT), which provides airborne capabilities for complex emergencies and major disasters, are developing a safety management system to enable highly-automated AAM-focused aviation for emergency response.
In Orlando, NASA is working with city and state governments to brainstorm the ways that air taxis and drones, and the infrastructure for this new transportation system, could be integrated into city planning. The agency is also working with the University of Central Florida to improve the safety of drones through data-driven predictive analytics. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, researchers are examining existing mishap data collected from the NASA Human Contribution to Safety (HC2S) test bed to identify realistic, actionable methods to promote better response to disturbances in flight.
AAM Tech Testing In Florida
“We want (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturers to feel very welcome in Florida,” Holland said. “We’ve got an incredibly business-friendly economy. What’s interesting is that with these aircrafts, you won’t be able to build them overseas and fly them here. We would welcome them to bring their businesses to Florida.”
For Doroni Aerospace, Florida’s commitment to fostering innovation and creating a regulatory framework that supports the development of AAM technologies played a big role in bringing the company to Florida, Doroni CEO Doron Merdinger said. There were some other benefits Florida has that makes it an ideal HQ for these kinds of operations.
“The climate in Florida allows for year-round testing, which is crucial for maintaining our development schedule without significant weather disruptions,” Merdinger said.
“Florida's existing aviation infrastructure and urban centers also provide an ideal environment for both testing and future deployment of our H1-X eVTOL.” Doroni is one of the AAM startups that have already achieved a few milestones, including securing FAA certification for its prototype in 2023. The company is now focused on completing the market-ready H1-X by the end of 2024.
The H1-X currently claims a top speed of 120 mph, a 60-mile range, 500-pound payload and a flight time of 40 minutes on a 25-minute charge. The carbon fiber airframe holds two seats surrounded by a 270-degree window for a panoramic view. Ducted fans and tandem wings provide both vertical and horizontal propolson. The vehicle takes off vertically, aided by semi-autonomous navigation, and Doroni suggests the craft will be able to land smoothly anywhere from building rooftops to home driveways.
By the end of the summer, Doroni hopes to finalize its preliminary testing phases, including safety assessments, flight performance evaluations and system integrations.
“Moving into the fourth quarter of 2024, we will start extended flight tests focusing on urban environment integration, noise impact studies, and real-world scenario simulations,” Merdinger said. “In 2025, our efforts will shift towards product manufacturing and scaling production, with the goal of starting deliveries at the beginning of 2026."
If that doesn’t seem far away, FDOT shares a similar timeline for seeing eVTOL aircraft in the Florida skies. Testing continues to ramp up, with the possibility of fullscale use in two years, if not sooner, Holland said.
“There are basically four big buckets the (FAA) is responsible for: certifications of aircrafts and pilots, finalizing vertiport standards, and integrating everything into our (air traffic control) system,” Holland said.
“If you think about pillars of responsibility, the FAA has a pillar, the state has a pillar, and local governments have a pillar. What we are working on is getting our local governments and state ready, so that once the (FAA) is through, we are excited to get going.”
The same goes for AAM companies, which are also trying to get blessings from all three pillars.
"Achieving full regulatory certification is a primary focus for us, and we are working closely with the FAA and other authorities to ensure we meet all safety and operational standards,” Merdinger said. “Infrastructure integration is another critical area, and we are collaborating with local and state governments to develop vertiports and charging stations essential for eVTOL operations.”
Of course, getting FAA approvals and cooperation with local governments is just one hurdle the AAM industry needs to clear. The other is convincing the public to give these vehicles a try. Awareness of and trust in this technology will have to be built, Merdinger said,
“Continuous technological advancements are necessary to enhance the safety, efficiency, and user experience of our aircraft,” he added. “We are excited about the potential of our H1-X eVTOL aircraft and remain committed to making advanced air mobility a reality in Florida and beyond.”
