Something NEW Is Coming to the Orlando Airport

According to the Orlando Business Journal, the Orlando International Airport is joining the FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility pilot program. This is one of eight transportation organizations in the U.S. that were selected to join this year.

©Orlando Business Journal

As part of the program, companies such as BETA Technologies are testing their eVTOL aircraft. This is a battery-powdered vehicle that takes off, hovers, and lands vertically like a helicopter but flies like a traditional airplane. They recently held a demo flight on May 18th at the Orlando Airport.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy Administrator, Chris Rocheleau, said, “These partnerships will help us better understand how to safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System. The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe Advanced Air Mobility operations.”

©Orlando Business Journal

Right now, they’re going to focus on cargo delivery, medical responses, and passenger transportation. BETA’s aircraft can travel up to 215 nautical miles and hold four passengers. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO, Lance Lytee, told the Orlando Business Journal that the authority has plans for a vertiport and a research venture, both of which are in the early stages.

©Orlando Business Journal

Lytee said, “We’re going to be a true intermodal facility at the airport. We have this all planned out, but the devil’s in the details, so we will have to work those out.” He said that people joke that it is a “Jetsons-like thing” without seeing it close up, but the demo lets people really see the reality of it.

©Orlando Business Journal

On April 2oth, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill which will go into effect on July 1st to allow funding for vertiports in the state. The global head of sales with BETA Technologieis said: “I think Florida is showing the way in what local states should be doing.”

©Orlando Business Journal

Testing of all eight pilot sites is expected to ramp up this summer. Make sure you keep following DFB for more updates.

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