ORLANDO, Fla. — Electric aircraft that lift straight up like helicopters could soon have a practice spot in Orlando, Fla. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority put a plan for a temporary vertipad at Orlando International Airport before its board on Wednesday afternoon.
The pad would go in the Atlantis surface parking lot, close to Terminal C and the Brightline rail station. Aircraft makers and operators would use it for demonstration runs, operating tests and work toward federal certification. It is not meant for paying passengers at first, even though airport leaders see a future in which these aircraft carry riders and cargo.
Rules in the proposal are strict. Operators would need the airport’s permission in advance, would coordinate with airport staff and would stay in contact with the control tower run by the Federal Aviation Administration. Flying would be allowed only in daylight with good visibility, and the agreement sets insurance and safety terms for any company that uses the site.
Airport officials have said demonstration flights could get underway before 2026 is out if the FAA signs off, with a permanent vertiport targeted for 2030. Future routes could link the airport to theme parks and other stops along Interstate 4. The state is also testing these aircraft at SunTrax, a 775-acre research campus in Polk County.
The same agenda carried a $501,525 project to buy and install transponders on airport vehicles that drive on runways and taxiways, so controllers can see them in real time. Federal money would cover $376,143, with $62,691 each from the state transportation department and local funds. Orlando Executive Airport would get its own version of the transponder system under a separate $55,725 item.
Section: More Orlando FL business news
Orlando business profiles
Filed under: Orlando FL Business News
