Florida Poly Police Add $148,000 Flying Patrol Vehicle
The Lakeland campus department acquired Astro, a single-seat aircraft built by Jetson, though it still needs FAA authorization before standard patrols.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Should your local police department spend money on flying patrol vehicles?
Florida Polytechnic University Police Department has acquired Astro, a $148,000 single-seat flying patrol vehicle built by Jetson. The aircraft still requires FAA authorization before it can be used for standard patrols.
Why it matters
Astro may give departments a way to respond during natural disasters such as floods or landslides where ground access is limited. It remains to be seen whether this technology becomes a mainstay of policing.
Jetson lists Astro's top speed at 63 mph and its flight time at about 20 minutes per charge, with a 210-pound carrying capacity including pilot and gear. Recharging takes about 90 minutes on a 240-volt connection or about three hours on a standard household outlet.
The players
Jetson
Jetson is the company that built the Astro single-seat aircraft and published its specifications for speed, flight time, and recharge times.
Florida Polytechnic University Police Department
The Florida Polytechnic University Police Department is the campus law enforcement agency in Lakeland that acquired the Astro flying patrol vehicle.
The details
Astro is a single-seat aircraft that functions like a large drone, and officers can swap batteries between flights to return to the air sooner if fully charged replacements are available. The department acquired the vehicle in Lakeland, Florida, where the university campus is located.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Article published about the Astro flying patrol vehicle.
Roadmap
Astro is an electric single-seat aircraft built by Jetson, and its entry into police use shows a flying vehicle being tested for public-safety work rather than only recreational or commercial use. Its use for standard patrols depends on FAA authorization, which places it within the existing federal aviation approval process.
Astro's 20-minute flight time and roughly three-hour household recharge time limit how long it can operate without swapping batteries. Its use in standard patrols awaits FAA authorization, so residents will not see it in routine operation until that approval is granted.
The takeaway
Flying patrol vehicles are moving from concept toward practical use, but regulatory approval and battery limits will shape how departments deploy them. Watch for FAA authorization as the next indicator of whether Astro enters regular service.
Further reading
For more on aircraft and flight technology, see our Space coverage.
Live Poll
Should your local police department spend money on flying patrol vehicles?
