RALEIGH – North Carolina completed its first electric-aircraft flights under the eLIFT-NC program this month, beginning real-world testing for a planned statewide network linking hospitals, airports and rural communities.
The Governor’s Office announced the flights Sept. 23 during an N.C. Department of Transportation showcase in Raleigh. According to the state, Joby Aviation conducted remotely piloted flights, while BETA Technologies flew electric aircraft between the Triangle and the Outer Banks. The announcement did not say that passenger service is available to the public.
NCDOT was selected in March for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program. The federal program is intended to give regulators operational data as they develop standards for advanced air mobility aircraft, which can include vertical-takeoff air taxis and other electric designs.
North Carolina’s first phase will focus on routes, airport pairs, safety cases, community engagement and operating data, according to the Governor’s Office. The state says it ultimately wants to connect hospitals, airports and rural communities, with potential uses that include health care access and disaster response.
The FAA says initial advanced-air-mobility operations are expected to use existing helipads, routes and air traffic control services where possible. NCDOT’s March plan also calls for charging infrastructure, vertiports and digital systems, with later phases including hospital pad-to-pad missions. Those elements could shape planning by the state, airports and health systems, although officials have not announced a construction schedule. The FAA has established powered-lift certification and operating rules, but individual aircraft and operators must still satisfy applicable federal requirements before commercial service.
The completed flights mark a new stage for the state’s advanced-air-mobility work. North Carolina previously launched a broader transportation initiative and hosted earlier demonstrations, but the September flights are the first under the current federally backed eLIFT-NC pilot. Officials have not announced a date for commercial passenger service or committed to a final statewide network.
Sources
- Office of Gov. Josh Stein: NCDOT eLIFT-NC showcase and first flights
- N.C. Department of Transportation: selection for the federal eVTOL pilot program
- Federal Aviation Administration: Air Taxis and the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Bryant; public domain.
Editor’s Note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.