FDOT and Orlando International Airport Celebrate Air Taxi Landing at Nation’s First Vertipad at a Commercial Airport

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5. 2026

FDOT and Orlando International Airport Celebrate Air Taxi Landing at Nation's First Vertipad at a Commercial Airport

ORLANDO, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Joby Aviation successfully completed the state's second "flying car" test flight as part of Florida's Future of Flight Series. Following Florida's first flight in this series that recreated the world's first commercial airline flight in 1914 with next-generation Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft, today's flight on the campus of Orlando International Airport showcased another first for the state as part of this series: the first use of MCO's dedicated Vertipad, which is a specialized takeoff and landing area for AAM aircraft and the first in the nation which is on-site at a commercial airport. With the completion of this demonstration, Florida is achieving yet another milestone in the state's efforts to launch commercial AAM services to the state with the use of ready-built infrastructure.

"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," said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. "We are paving the way for Florida's Aerial Highway Network and showing how strategic investments in infrastructure can support the safe integration of emerging aircraft into our transportation system. This vision has been years in the making, and today, we are bringing it to life."

"Today's demonstration reflects our commitment to preparing MCO for the future of aviation while keeping safety, collaboration, and the customer experience at the center of every step," said Lance Lyttle, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

"Orlando International now has the nation's first eVTOL landing site at a major U.S. airport, and it didn't happen overnight" said Greg Bowles, Joby's Chief Policy Officer. "FDOT, GOAA, the FAA and Orlando's controllers spent two years proving in a simulator that an air taxi could fly into Class B airspace while the airport kept running. Today we demonstrated how quiet, electric, vertical lift aircraft can integrate into existing airspace and how they will change how people move through a region like this one, from the gate to the parks in minutes instead of an hour on the highway."

Today's demonstration flight is one of many flights included in Florida's Future of Flight Series, which have been launching across the state throughout late October and early November. As part of Florida's participation in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) and AAM Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), this flight series will offer key insight to the FAA as they develop the regulations, infrastructure, and operating procedures that are necessary to safely deploy flying cars for commercial use.

With the successful takeoff and landing of AAM aircraft at MCO's dedicated Vertipad, Florida is demonstrating how this technology will operate in real-world conditions. As one of the state's primary corridors for the initial deployment of AAM, the development of ready-built infrastructure in the Orlando metro area, like this Vertipad, is key to support Florida's earliest commercial AAM flights along the Interstate 4 (I-4) corridor. Thanks to the collaboration and strategic action taken by the state's most critical AAM partners to build this infrastructure, such as airports like MCO, Florida is continuing to serve as a national leader in this industry due to proven follow-through on building the backbone infrastructure to support AAM operations.

Alongside Joby Aviation, which piloted today's flight demonstration with their aircraft, Florida's eIPP is also supported by a robust portfolio of partners, including top Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), academia partners, local municipalities, and airports around the state. Through the eIPP, as well as active testing underway at FDOT's SunTrax test facility, Florida will collect data in key focus areas, such as noise, airspace integration, and more that will help guide important decisions about this new mode of transportation at the national level.

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The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state's economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida's environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state's communities.