A Joby electric air taxi flew to Orlando International Airport's new vertipad Wednesday. It was a test flight, and no date has been set for passenger service.

An electric air taxi took off and landed at Orlando International Airport on Wednesday. It was the first flight to use the airport’s new vertipad, a small pad built for aircraft that take off and land straight up.

Joby Aviation flew the aircraft. The Florida Department of Transportation hosted the flight with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which runs the airport. Both FDOT and the airport announced it the same day.

This was a test flight. Neither release gives a date for passenger service.

What happened

The airport calls the pad Vertipad Atlantis. It said the pad is the first in the nation on site at a commercial airport.

The airport said the pad is “laying the groundwork” for a larger vertiport that would handle commercial air taxi flights on the airport grounds.

The flight used routes and procedures worked out with the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA, the airport said. Orlando air traffic controllers worked on it too.

Greg Bowles, Joby’s chief policy officer, said in the FDOT release that the partners “spent two years proving in a simulator that an air taxi could fly into Class B airspace while the airport kept running.”

A white and blue Joby electric air taxi with six tilting propellers flies above a line of pine trees under a partly cloudy sky.
The Joby air taxi in flight during Wednesday's demonstration at Orlando International Airport. Photo: supplied by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

Why the state is doing this

Florida is part of the FAA’s pilot program for these aircraft, known as eVTOLs. FDOT said the flight was the second in its Future of Flight Series, a set of demonstrations across the state in late October and early November. The first recreated the 1914 flight the state calls the world’s first commercial airline flight.

FDOT said the flights will give the FAA data on noise, airspace and other issues as it writes the rules for commercial service. It named the Interstate 4 corridor as one of the first routes the state wants to serve.

“Today’s flight showcases Florida’s nation-leading commitment to building the infrastructure and resources needed for the future of flying cars in our state,” FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said.

What it means for you

  • You cannot book a flight. This was a demonstration. Neither release names a fare or a start date.
  • Expect more test flights. FDOT and Joby plan more flights around the state, the airport said.
  • Watch the video. The airport posted video of the demonstration flight on YouTube.

Driving to the airport? Check our road construction and closures page before you go.