Florida is moving advanced air mobility from the drawing board toward real-world testing.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says eVTOL aircraft could begin flying in the Central Florida Aerospace Region before 2026 ends. The effort could eventually put Tampa and Orlando within reach of a new kind of air transportation.
At SunTrax in Auburndale, DeSantis and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue highlighted the state’s push to develop Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure, including two vertiports designed for aircraft and communications testing in controlled, real-world conditions.
“I think we’re going to be able to get you up in the air at some point in the not too distant future,” DeSantis said.
The 775-acre SunTrax facility, operated by FDOT, has expanded beyond its original focus on connected and autonomous ground transportation. SunTrax Air is now being developed as a dedicated research and development environment for Advanced Air Mobility, with the state pursuing infrastructure and operational concepts needed for future eVTOL operations.
DeSantis said Florida expects testing to begin by the end of 2026, with electric and hybrid aircraft potentially supporting passenger, medical, cargo and other commercial missions.
For commuters, the most immediate possibility may be an aerial alternative to one of Central Florida’s most familiar headaches.
“I think the one place people would say where, if you had air taxis going habitually, you go Tampa to Orlando, and you can avoid I-4 entirely,” DeSantis said.
The bigger test, however, will not simply be getting eVTOLs airborne. It will be proving that aircraft, infrastructure and communities can work together safely enough to make routine aerial transportation practical. If Florida can make that transition work, the future of short distance travel may begin to look very different from the ground up.
https://www.aero-news.net/