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by Courtney Dwaileebe
Florida is moving closer to a future where commuters could bypass traffic by taking to the air.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced a new partnership between the Florida Department of Transportation and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University aimed at researching advanced air mobility technology and building the workforce needed to support it. The effort centers on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, which state leaders say could eventually move people above some of Florida’s most congested roads.
“So you could start to see taxi service with these vertical lift platforms. Probably within the next year, I would say that’s definitely could be something that would be there,” DeSantis said.
The state is already preparing by working with Embry-Riddle to study issues tied to launching the service, including passenger screening, terminals and air traffic management.
FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said the long-term vision is an interstate-like network in the sky.
“We’re going to take highways to the sky. So imagine an I-4 corridor between Orlando and Tampa where hundreds of these vehicles are flying back and forth, moving passengers at a very efficient, cost-effective manner,” Perdue said.
State officials say the concept is not limited to Central Florida. Tallahassee International Airport Director David Pollard said the capital city is already included in Florida’s planned aerial highway network.
“We intend to align very closely with the state’s efforts as they proceed and move forward with creating the aerial highway network throughout the state,” Pollard said.
DeSantis said the aircraft could also be used beyond passenger travel, including medical transport, disaster response, emergency response and law enforcement.
“This could be used for medical transport. It could be used for a disaster response, an emergency response. It could be used for law enforcement,” DeSantis said.
With Tallahassee included in the state’s planned aerial highway network, the capital could be among the communities positioned to take part as Florida develops the next phase of advanced air mobility.
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DeSantis says Florida air taxi test flights could begin by year’s end – wtwcfox
