ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport (MCO) made history today at its newly constructed Vertipad, the site of a demonstration flight by Joby Aviation to showcase the potential of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology in Central Florida.
The demonstration flight, hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), used routes and procedures developed through collaboration among the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The coordinated effort reflects a shared commitment to safely integrating Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft into the National Airspace System.
Attendees had an opportunity to see the aircraft in operation and learn more about the planning, coordination, and infrastructure required to support the next generation of air travel.
Vertipad Atlantis, a small takeoff and landing area, is laying the groundwork for a future Vertiport to handle eVTOL commercial operations on-airport and is the first vertipad in the nation onsite at a commercial airport.
“This demonstration flight represents far more than a single aircraft taking off and landing. It is a meaningful step toward the future of aviation,” said Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates Orlando International Airport. “By bringing together government, industry, and air traffic partners at MCO, we are helping turn an emerging transportation concept into a safe, practical reality that can strengthen connectivity, create new opportunities, and shape how people move across Florida and beyond.”
“More than 100 years ago, Florida helped launch the commercial aviation industry. Today, we are helping shape the next era of flight,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “Through strategic investments, statewide planning, and partnerships with some of the industry’s top innovators, Florida is creating the infrastructure and policies needed to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility into our transportation system. These flights demonstrate how we are turning vision into reality.”
The flight also demonstrated how MCO’s Vertipad can serve as a platform for testing operational concepts and advancing the procedures needed for safe, efficient eVTOL service. Collaboration with Orlando air traffic controllers helped ensure the demonstration reflected the demands of operating in a complex airport environment.
The event comes at an exciting time for Florida as Joby and FDOT plan flights across the state. Those efforts are expected to help inform the continued development of Florida’s AAM network.
MCO’s new Vertipad and the successful demonstration underscore the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s role in bringing public- and private-sector partners together to explore emerging aviation technologies while keeping safety and operational readiness at the forefront.
