TAMPA, Fla. — Officials from Tampa International Airport, the state of Florida, and the city of Tampa gathered Thursday to watch what was billed as the first successful air taxi test flight.
It was tested for the first time in Florida at Tampa International Airport. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch were among those in attendance at the test flight.
"It's The Jetsons coming to life, right?" said Kyle Mixon, who has lived in Tampa for 30 years.
The air taxi, which resembles a two-person drone helicopter, was also the first-ever electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft test flight at a large U.S. airport or in the state of Florida.
"It's almost like the Wright Brothers. These guys are flying something that no one else flew before," said Joe Lopano, Tampa International Airport CEO.
"We need mobility around here right? Well this aircraft will go above all the traffic and take you where you need to go within the city," said Lopano.
Volocopter, a German-based company, was behind the air taxi test Thursday. The craft is reportedly all-electric and zero-emissions. Volocopter said the craft, known as "Volocity" is one cog in a multi-part plan the company said it hopes will help transform urban transportation.
"You want to have it sustainable, so no emissions electric flight, you want to have a very quiet flight, people don't want additional stress in their environment so you will see and hear it is very quiet, and it has to be safe. We are certified under the same standards as a commercial aircraft," said Hoke.
Tampa Bay leaders said towards the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, people in the Tampa Bay area will be able to climb on board.
"I've often said that if we don't come up with transportation solutions, our growth is going to slow," said Jane Castor, Tampa Mayor.
Officials said the air-taxi would cost between $3 and $5 per mile.
"You will see flights from here from Tampa to St. Pete…people going for dinner, or maybe people coming from a hockey game, and going back home that same night on Volocopter," said Lopano.
Mixon has lived in the Tampa Bay area for 30 years and thinks the air taxi will be a game changer.
"Congestion isn't getting any better, especially in our area, so the opportunities are limitless here," said Mixon.
