Like what can be seen in the utopian future of “Jetson” on television, Orlando International Airport is about to realize its long-standing dream of bringing flying cars into the area.
On Wednesday, the Greater Orlando Aviation Administration took steps towards its future by asking for the development and operation of a landing pad for flying cars, known as a Vertiport, at the airport. is scheduled to be released in March at the finished product 2028 Target.
According to a news release, the airport expects to place Vertiport on land in the Eastern Airfield area on the northeastern side or on the south side near the railway station.
Airport spokesman Angela Stark said in an email that it will help invite partners gather information such as the costs for the airport to build Vertiport. Currently, the aviation authorities do not have the budget for the project.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a member of the Aviation Authority, said the city is the technology behind the vehicles in flight and the global leader in technology with hubs at the airport.
“We assume that the airport is the multimodal hub of the future,” Dyer said. “That means expanding Sunrail to the airport, and from there expanding Brightline to Tampa, making sure the airport was prepared as the future Vertihub.”
He said Vertiports might help manage city growth, but that’s far away. He expects to start with a four- to six-seat vehicle operating from the airport, followed by a flying car corridor in the end. Smaller aircraft use electricity and are expected to take off and land vertically.
“We can’t get Vertiport at the airport. We need a place for vehicles to go from the airport to Orlando or downtown Tampa,” Dyer said. “Before you see “Jetsons,” I think this will be developed slowly. ”
But if the mayor has his own way, it’s not that slow.
After the first Vertiport was established at the airport three years later, he said something else in the downtown area was immediately a real possibility. Ultimately he hopes there will be manufacturing facilities in the city as well.
For many years, Orlando has worked to become the country’s first city in Vertiport, but previous attempts have not flew.
The agreement announced in 2020 between German flying car company Lilium Air Mobility and Lake Nona developer Tavistock ended before it fulfilled its promise to have a vehicle in Orlando by 2025. It was integrated into the city, but excitement fell for over three years and nothing progressed.
Until 2024, the idea was once again driven by major players, including the Federal Aviation Administration. In February of that year, Lilium announced it was interested in establishing a Vertiport hub at the airport.
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Lilium has not yet signed a contract with the airport, but Starke said it could drive the project by emailing the announcement of negotiations for Vertiport Hub. She said the airport works with the FAA.
In October, the FAA took an important step when it issued the final rules for qualifications and training for AAM pilots and instructors. Then in November, the airport held a two-day tabletop exercise sponsored by the FAA, focusing on operating rules, aircraft certification and more.
Dyer said it’s the FAA that can slow down progress.
“A lot of the timing depends on the development of rules and regulations by the FAA,” he said. “They’re responsible for developing routes and integrating with traffic control systems they already have at the airport, so there’s a lot going on before “Jetson” flies around. ”
Outside of Orlando, Vertiport and flying vehicles also find support.
In 2023, Tampa International Airport held its first test flight of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in Florida, more commonly known as EVTOL or electric air taxis.
Earlier this month, Jared Perdue, secretary to the Florida Department of Transport, has announced that he will establish a sophisticated airplane, including establishing vertiport in urban areas that could serve as a hub for short air commuting with airplanes and battery aircraft with airplane characteristics. We have expressed support for mobility. helicopter.
The bill, introduced in January by State Senator R-Stuart, also provides sales tax exemptions for the sale or lease of electric vertical takeoffs and landing aircraft or flying vehicles.
