Can I book an eVTOL air taxi flight in Florida?

No. As of October 4, 2026, no eVTOL aircraft holds an FAA type certificate, and eIPP flights carry company pilots only. No Florida operator sells eVTOL tickets.

Where is the Orlando International vertistop?

At Surface Lot Atlantis, near the Orlando International (KMCO) train station that serves Terminal C. The pad uses about 80 parking spaces and is designed to FAA Engineering Brief 105A.

When will eVTOL testing start in Florida?

FDOT and Governor DeSantis have said eVTOL testing at SunTrax Air in Polk County will begin by the end of 2026. Orlando International targets possible demonstration flights later in 2026, pending FAA approval.

Which eVTOL companies can fly in Florida under the eIPP?

Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are both partners on FDOT’s eIPP project. Joby lists Florida among the states it is approved to fly in, and Archer has said its eIPP operations will extend to Florida.

When does Orlando International plan a full vertiport?

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority plans a full on-airport vertiport, with a terminal and passenger amenities, by 2030. It is a separate project from the 2026 vertistop.

News · Air mobility

Florida Air Mobility Update: MCO Vertistop and eIPP Flights

Florida Private Aviation editorial · Published October 4, 2026 · Updated October 4, 2026

As of October 4, 2026, no eVTOL air taxi carries paying passengers in Florida. Orlando International (KMCO) has approved a demonstration vertistop, FDOT's SunTrax Air in Polk County plans eVTOL test flights by the end of 2026, and Archer and Joby hold federal approval to fly pre-certification operations in the state.

Key facts

Passenger eVTOL service: None yet
MCO vertistop: Approved July 16, 2026
SunTrax Air testing: Targeted by end of 2026
Federal program: FAA eIPP, 3 years
eIPP partners in Florida: Archer, Joby
MCO full vertiport: Planned by 2030

Can you book an eVTOL flight in Florida?

No. Commercial passenger service needs an FAA type certificate, and neither Joby Aviation nor Archer Aviation has received one or set a U.S. date for it. Joby remains in Stage 5 of FAA type certification, with Type Inspection Authorization testing under way on conforming aircraft.

The federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) lets aircraft that are still in certification fly under negotiated FAA agreements. eIPP flights carry company pilots only, so no Florida operator is selling eVTOL seats. Travelers who need short regional hops today use helicopters or light jets through Florida charter operators.

What is the Orlando International vertistop?

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) board approved a vertistop at Orlando International (KMCO) on July 16, 2026. A vertistop is a small takeoff and landing pad with minimal infrastructure. The MCO pad sits at Surface Lot Atlantis, next to the train station that serves Terminal C, and is designed to FAA Engineering Brief 105A, the FAA's interim vertiport design guidance.

The project is subject to FAA approval and FDOT support. Airport officials set a goal of finishing construction by the end of October 2026 and said the site could host demonstration flights later this year. The pad takes about 80 spaces in the airport's least-used parking lot, and officials said normal airport operations will not be affected.

What comes after the vertistop at MCO?

GOAA plans a full on-airport vertiport by 2030, with a terminal and passenger amenities, as a separate project. The 2026 vertistop is meant to validate the site and the approach and departure procedures evaluated in airspace simulations.

Orlando International is one of two U.S. airports in a NASA- and FAA-supported simulation program for advanced air mobility procedures. GOAA says its goal is eVTOL procedures that run independently of the airport's existing jet traffic, using MCO's large land area and wide parallel-runway separation. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue described the pad as part of the initial phase of air mobility along the I-4 corridor.

What is happening at SunTrax Air?

SunTrax is a 775-acre FDOT research campus in Auburndale, Polk County, on the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. It was built to test connected and autonomous vehicles and has expanded to include SunTrax Air, the state's advanced air mobility test site. On August 10, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis said Florida will be actively testing eVTOL aircraft there by the end of the year.

In July 2026, Melbourne-based Eve Air Mobility partnered with FDOT to assess infrastructure, operating procedures and airspace navigation at SunTrax Air. FDOT is also working with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Polk State College on pilot, engineer and technician training. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the site on August 17, 2026.

How does the federal eIPP apply to Florida?

In March 2026, FDOT was one of eight proposals selected for the FAA's eIPP, a three-year program to integrate advanced air mobility aircraft into the National Airspace System. FDOT describes its project as statewide, with multiple industry partners and three phases of operations covering cargo delivery, passenger transport, automation and medical response.

Embry-Riddle conducts research supporting Florida's participation. At Kissimmee Gateway (KISM), the ALTA program (Autonomous Landing and Take-off Assistant) is testing airspace management for air taxi operations. A 2026 state law classifies vertiports as public airport infrastructure and allows FDOT to fund their construction.

Where do Archer and Joby stand?

Archer Aviation's eIPP partners include FDOT, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Archer began its multi-city "No Roads" Midnight tour in Northern California on September 4, 2026. The company says eIPP operations in Texas, Florida and New York will follow its California and Los Angeles stops. Archer's Florida plans name Miami and Tampa (KTPA) among its demonstration cities.

Joby Aviation lists Florida among the states it can fly in under the eIPP. Joby's first eIPP campaign ran in Texas from September 10 to 14, 2026, and included a flight to the Corporate Aviation FBO at Dallas Fort Worth International. Joby has not announced a date for Florida eIPP flights.

Which Florida companies are involved?

Three Florida-headquartered aircraft companies appear on the directory's Florida air mobility tracker. Eve Air Mobility, Embraer's eVTOL company, is based in Melbourne and runs the SunTrax readiness work with FDOT. Doroni Aerospace in Pompano Beach is flight testing its two-seat H1-X personal eVTOL. UrbanLink Air Mobility in Miami has ordered 27 REGENT electric Seagliders for coastal South Florida routes.

On the infrastructure side, the tracker lists vertiport plans with Related Ross in West Palm Beach and the Magic City Innovation District in Miami, along with GOAA at Orlando. None of these sites is open to passengers.

Milestones to watch

Target	Milestone	Status (Oct 4, 2026)
End of Oct 2026	MCO vertistop construction complete	Pending FAA approval
Late 2026	First eVTOL demonstration flights at MCO	Planned
End of 2026	eVTOL testing at SunTrax Air	Planned
Not announced	Archer and Joby eIPP flights in Florida	Approved, not scheduled
Not announced	FAA type certificate (Joby, Archer)	In certification
2030	Full passenger vertiport at MCO	Planned

Quick answers

Can I book an eVTOL air taxi flight in Florida?: No. As of October 4, 2026, no eVTOL aircraft holds an FAA type certificate, and eIPP flights carry company pilots only. No Florida operator sells eVTOL tickets.
Where is the Orlando International vertistop?: At Surface Lot Atlantis, near the Orlando International (KMCO) train station that serves Terminal C. The pad uses about 80 parking spaces and is designed to FAA Engineering Brief 105A.
When will eVTOL testing start in Florida?: FDOT and Governor DeSantis have said eVTOL testing at SunTrax Air in Polk County will begin by the end of 2026. Orlando International targets possible demonstration flights later in 2026, pending FAA approval.
Which eVTOL companies can fly in Florida under the eIPP?: Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are both partners on FDOT’s eIPP project. Joby lists Florida among the states it is approved to fly in, and Archer has said its eIPP operations will extend to Florida.
When does Orlando International plan a full vertiport?: The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority plans a full on-airport vertiport, with a terminal and passenger amenities, by 2030. It is a separate project from the 2026 vertistop.

Sources

Status reflects public statements as of October 4, 2026. This article will be updated as certification and construction progress. Related: Florida FBO Report 2026 · Central Florida aviation · Florida FBO directory.