USF powering Florida research on air taxis

By Joey Garcia, University Communications and Marketing

Instead of sitting in traffic, commuters across the country could one day lift off for a 20-minute flight to their destination. Once imagined only in science fiction, the vision of Advanced Air Mobility is gaining momentum with USF researchers playing a key role on behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Interest in AAM has grown since 2020 when the concept was rebranded from urban air mobility. Backed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the federal initiative selected Florida and seven other states for its Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing and AAM Integration Pilot Program.

USF Professor Yu (April) Zhang, program director of the USF AAM Research Program at the Center for Urban Transportation Research, is leading an interdisciplinary team to shape how this technology could be safely and effectively integrated into Florida's transportation system.

The future air taxi service could be reserved or scheduled on demand. Passengers would book flights through an online scheduling system and arrive at a small landing site, known as a vertiport, to board the aircraft. Typical trips in urban areas would last about 10 to 20 minutes, with air taxis traveling 100 to 200 miles per hour at altitudes between 500 and 3,000 feet.

FLORIDA'S INVESTMENT IN AIR MOBILITY

As the third most populous state, Florida faces persistent congestion, particularly along the Interstate 4 corridor connecting Tampa and Daytona Beach. Tourist hubs such as Orlando and Miami further contribute to heavy traffic, prompting the state to begin investing in air mobility research as early as 2021.

"This is a great opportunity for Florida to become a pioneer in this emerging mode of transportation," Zhang said. "By embracing this new technology, Florida is among the more advanced states when it comes to planning and deployment."

As a member of the federal pilot program, Florida's efforts will focus on passenger transportation, cargo delivery, automation and emergency medical response. State lawmakers have also updated legislation to allow vertiport infrastructure and electric charging systems to be included in transportation projects.

USF CHANGING THE TRAVEL LANDSCAPE

Since joining USF in 2008, Zhang has focused on urban transportation research, examining how emerging technologies such as air taxis could improve mobility. Her team at the Smart Urban Mobility Laboratory is analyzing potential vertiport locations, passenger usage patterns and how much road traffic might shift to the air in city and rural areas.

Using advanced simulation tools, the lab is modeling demand and air-ground interactions to evaluate how air taxis could improve travel times and accessibility by complementing existing transportation systems. Through artificial intelligence-led simulations, the team is recreating real-world transportation conditions to test how air taxis would perform during various scenarios. The research enables planners to simulate an entire trip, from when a passenger leaves home to thier desitnation arrival.

"Our research shows that air taxis don't need mass adoption to have an impact," Zhang said. "Even shifting about 1 to 2% of trips from the road to the air can make a meaningful difference when traffic is already near capacity."

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE FLIGHT MODEL

The most critical next step for air taxis is receiving aircraft certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. Zhang describes the process as extensive and multi-stage, requiring rigorous testing and evaluation before passengers can be carried. Once certified, the rollout would occur gradually rather than all at once.

Early services will likely begin with a limited number of routes operating on fixed schedules rather than fully on-demand service. Although pricing has yet to be determined, researchers expect air taxis to initially cost more than premium ride-sharing services, typically estimated at roughly $3 to $6 per passenger mile, or about $40 to $120 for common short urban trips. Pricing will become more affordable as air taxis become more accessible over time.

"As the system matures, we may transition to on-demand services similar to ride-sharing, with vertiports added gradually as local stakeholders are ready," Zhang said. "At the same time, the national airspace system will evolve to accommodate the increasing density of AAM operations."