As air taxi plans progress, Florida envisions "highways in the sky"
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Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL. Photo: Courtesy of Archer Aviation
How bad is Miami traffic? Pretty soon, we may be flying around town like George Jetson.
Why it matters: Multiple companies have announced plans to launch air taxi services in South Florida, but they don't yet have full government approval.
- A new federal pilot program will speed up the integration of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft across 26 states, including Florida, with testing expected to begin this summer.
How it works: eVTOL aircraft are a cross between a helicopter and an airplane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Like a helicopter, they can take off and land vertically, and they fly at low speeds. But they are much quieter, more suitable for urban travel.
- Air taxis typically fly between 120 and 200 miles per hour and reach altitudes of between 1,000 and 3,000 feet, per the Florida Department of Transportation.
State of play: The FAA's eVTOL pilot program selected eight projects, including one led by FDOT, to "create one of the largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft in the world."
- The FDOT piece will include three phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation and medical response.
- Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies and Electra will take part in Florida tests.
What they're saying: Archer — which has plans to develop a South Florida air taxi network connecting major airports, Hard Rock Stadium and other locations — says its four-passenger Midnight aircraft can cut 90-minute commutes down to 20-minute flights.
- CEO and founder Adam Goldstein has said the pilot program will introduce the public to air taxis the way Waymo did with self-driving cars.
Vertical Aerospace, a U.K.-based company that debuted its aircraft Valo in Miami Beach last month, expects to enter commercial service following certification and regulatory approval in 2028.
- Vertical is working with Miami International Airport and other partners to connect major regional hubs, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson tells Axios.
- South Florida "is a natural early adopter for advanced air mobility, given its density, congestion, and strong demand for premium, time-saving transportation," Simpson says.
The intrigue: Doroni Aerospace, a Dania Beach-based company, is developing a line of personal electric aircraft it says customers can park in their driveways.
- It will begin testing its new H1-X model in 2027, CEO and founder Doron Merdinger tells Axios.
- To fly the H1-X — which might cost between $400,000 and $450,000 — owners will need a sport pilot license, which Merdinger says requires about 20 hours of specialized training.
- "Our ultimate goal is to democratize flight, making it as accessible as driving."
Zoom in: In a 2025 memo, FDOT envisioned a system of "highways in the sky with dedicated travel lanes and strategically placed aerial on-ramps and off-ramps located at key destinations."
- The SunTrax campus in Central Florida will serve as Florida's headquarters for eVTOL testing.
Follow the money: eVTOL companies tell Axios they hope their services will someday be priced similarly to premium rideshare options like Uber Black.
- But they warn the services will likely begin at a higher price point due to limited supply.
What's next: eVTOL companies hope the pilot program will speed up their federal approval, but for air taxi service to take flight, vertiports and charging stations must be built.