Florida Tests Air Taxis Over Tampa Bay
State transportation officials ran the first advanced air mobility flight demonstrations in Florida's history, following a path tied to the nation's first commercial airline flight.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Air Travel
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The Florida Department of Transportation conducted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flight demonstrations over Tampa Bay on October 30, with two aircraft flying in formation from Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg to Signature Aviation at Tampa International Airport. A second eVTOL test with Joby Aviation followed on November 4 at Orlando International Airport.
Why it matters
The flights gather data on noise and airspace integration as Florida works toward advanced air mobility under the Federal Aviation Administration's Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program. The demonstrations are part of the state's Future of Flight Series, a fact-finding initiative with the FAA.
Two eVTOL aircraft flew the October 30 route, each using five small propellers instead of one. The source does not report the noise or airspace-integration findings the flights were meant to gather.
The players
Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis is the Governor of Florida, who presented the advanced air mobility flight demonstrations from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is the state agency that conducted the eVTOL flight demonstrations and runs the Future of Flight Series with the FAA.
Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation is an aircraft developer that partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation on the November 4 eVTOL test at Orlando International Airport.
The details
Governor Ron DeSantis presented the October 30 demonstrations, which were the first to use Florida's Aerial Highway Network. The November 4 test with Joby Aviation used Orlando International Airport's dedicated Vertipad, the first platform of its kind at a commercial airport in the country.
Timeline
January 1, 1914: Toby Jannus conducted the first commercial airline flight in the U.S., which the October 30 demonstrations followed.
October 30: FDOT conducted eVTOL flight demonstrations over Tampa Bay.
November 4: FDOT and Joby Aviation conducted a second eVTOL test at Orlando International Airport.
Roadmap
The October 30 demonstrations followed the same path as the first commercial airline flight in the U.S., conducted by Toby Jannus on January 1, 1914. Florida's tests extend that lineage into advanced air mobility under the FAA's Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program.
Flight demonstrations are testing the logistics of short air taxi trips between Florida airports and vertiports, which may eventually affect how travelers reach downtown destinations. Current tests are demonstrations, so no commercial booking options are yet available.
The takeaway
Florida's demonstrations show that eVTOL aircraft are moving from concept toward real testing at commercial airports. Travelers should watch for FAA pilot-program updates before expecting air taxi service.
Further reading
For more on how flights are changing, see Air Travel coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Equipment World.
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