TAMPA, Fla. — Electric aircraft flew from Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport as part of Florida’s first Advanced Air Mobility demonstration flights, a test aimed at moving the technology toward safe commercial operations.
The demonstration included a BETA Technologies aircraft and a Joby Aviation electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Both flew from St. Petersburg to Tampa.
“This is an all electric Alia CX300 eCTOL aircraft,” said Chris Caputo, director of flight operations for BETA Technologies and the pilot of the aircraft.
Caputo said he has logged many miles in the aircraft and described the experience of flying it as a positive one.
“Flying is actually a dream,” Caputo said. “The visibility is amazing. The acoustics are awesome. It really is a joy to fly.”
The BETA Technologies aircraft took off in formation with Joby Aviation’s electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. The Joby aircraft takes off like a helicopter before its propulsion units pivot so it can fly like a plane.
Bonny Simi, president of operations for Joby Aviation, said the aircraft’s quieter operation could allow it to be used in downtown areas.
“So like in St. Pete… it’s a lot quieter than the airplanes there,” Simi said.
Simi said Joby expects to bring the technology to market in the next year or two. Joby has partnered with Uber to get people in the air, and the company said the cost would be around the price of an Uber XL or Uber Black.
BETA Technologies is currently focused on cargo and medical flights, with passenger service expected in the near future.
The flights were part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL integration pilot program, which is developing new rules to allow for safe advanced air mobility operations.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said there is no set date for when the aircraft will receive full clearance from the administration, but said safety is the priority.
“We want to be absolutely certain that we’ve got all the risks identified and mitigated before we certify these,” Bedford said. “But I’m confident we’re getting there, and we see a pathway to get there working with these innovators.”
The demonstration also served as a way to collect data that will be used as the technology moves toward the market.
“It’s just a pleasure to be a part of, and we’re super excited about today,” Caputo said.
Not only was this a big step for aviation, but the route these aircrafts took on Friday was historically significant.
The world’s first commercial airline flight took off from St. Petersburg.
In 1914, Tony Jannus flew a seaplane from just north of where the Albert Whitted Airport is today to Tampa in 23 minutes.
“It’s only taken us 112 years to get back here. So this is amazing history that people are witnessing live here,” Rui Farias, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
Back then it took six hours by train to get between the two cities and up to 12 hours by car, Farias said.
When these Advanced Air Mobility electric aircrafts are ready they could cut that travel time down to 10 minutes.