According to The FAA National Airspace System status webpage, 11 airports remained closed to commercial traffic Thursday, with most requiring prior permission (PPR) for emergency and relief aircraft.

Airport maintenance crews throughout the Sunshine State inspected facilities for damage, as did the FAA.

• READ MORE: Here’s How the FAA Prepares Year-Round for Hurricanes 

Tampa International Airport (KTPA) remained closed midday Thursday, but said it would soon announce its plans to resume flights? “The TPA team is hard at work assessing and cleaning up the damage left in Hurricane Milton’s wake. We remain closed at this time and are working toward sharing reopening plans later today,” it said.

CLEANUP UNDERWAY: The TPA team is hard at work assessing and cleaning up the damage left in Hurricane Milton’s wake. We remain closed at this time and are working toward sharing reopening plans later today. Stay tuned to our social media for the latest updates. pic.twitter.com/A8KSk25NyS

— Tampa International Airport (@FlyTPA) October 10, 2024

Daytona Beach International Airport, which closed to commercial flights Wednesday morning, said its reopening on Friday would be determined after post-storm inspections. 

At least one Florida airport reported damage. Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) lost a 30-by-40-foot section of roof and part of a skylight in its center terminal, USA Today reported. The airport was closed at the time and no injuries were reported.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

According to the National Hurricane Center, the remnants of Milton continued to pose a risk as the storm moved offshore. “A storm surge warning remains in effect for portions of the east coast of Florida and southern coast of Georgia,” as the risk of “considerable urban flooding” lingered across the east central portion of the state, it said at 11 a.m. EST. 

The post Florida Airports Assess Hurricane Milton Damage appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Wednesday afternoon, the Category 4 hurricane had wind speeds of about 145 mph and was predicted to create a storm surge of more than 10 feet along west-central coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The NAFI Summit was scheduled for October 15-17 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus. The event is touted as an opportunity for flight instructors of all levels to increase their skills through mentorship, presentations, and peer support. 

“Our top priority is to keep everyone safe,” NAFI said in a statement to FLYING. “The aftermath of this storm will likely cause transportation issues for attendees and exhibitors. Also, we want to free up resources like hotels and rental cars for Florida residents impacted by this hurricane. We have therefore decided to postpone NAFI Summit.”

NAFI officials said they are in touch with the staff at Embry-Riddle in regard to alternative dates.

The post Hurricane Milton Prompts NAFI to Postpone Summit appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

• READ MORE: Here’s How the FAA Prepares Year-Round for Hurricanes

Video from on board the four-engine turboprop has been trending on the internet.

Bumpy ride into Hurricane #Milton on @NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" to collect data to help improve the forecast and support hurricane research.

Visit https://t.co/3phpgKNx0q for the latest forecasts and advisories
Visit https://t.co/UoRa967zK0 for information that you… pic.twitter.com/ezmXu2Zqta

— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) October 8, 2024

Members of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps struggled with severe turbulence aboard the Orion as scientists gathered data on wind speed, temperature, record-low pressure, and humidity.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

As of Tuesday afternoon, the hurricane was downgraded to Category 4 status from Category 5.

Still, the 155 mph winds represent a significant threat to the west-central coastal area of Florida with storm surges of 10 feet or more expected upon landfall, which is expected Wednesday.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Hurricane-Hunting P-3 Experiences Severe Turbulence appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Tuesday morning, the storm was categorized as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds around 150 mph and hurricane-force winds extending up to 30 miles from its center.

“A large area of destructive storm surge, with highest inundations of 10 feet or greater, is expected along a portion of the west-central coast of the Florida Peninsula,” the National Weather Service said Tuesday, calling it “an extremely life-threatening situation.”

Here are the Tuesday 10 am CDT #Hurricane #Milton Key Messages – The latest full advisory is at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/rNlYvXT3XV

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 8, 2024

Tampa International Airport (KTPA) suspended all commercial and cargo operations as of 9 a.m. EST Tuesday. 

“The airport will remain closed to the public until it can assess any damage after the storm,” the airport said in a statement.

The airport’s parking garages were also closed, and officials said it could not be used as a shelter because it is located in the “A” mandatory zone and “will not be staffed to assist others with supplies or assistance, nor will emergency services be able to respond to calls or transport individuals to or from the airport.”

• READ MORE: NASA Postpones Europa Clipper Launch as Hurricane Milton Takes Aim at Cape Canaveral

Airport staff have been scrambling to prepare the airfield to minimize the damage from the storm. The airport is managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which is also closing Peter O. Knight (KTPF), Tampa Executive (KVDF), and Plant City (KPCM).

St. Pete-Clearwater International (KPIE) in Pinellas County is also located in a mandatory evacuation zone. The airport said it would close after the last flight departed Tuesday and would remain shuttered Wednesday and Thursday because of the storm.

Hurricane Milton Update – The airport terminal will close after the last flight on Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday and Thursday. The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter. Prepare and stay safe.

— St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (@iflypie) October 7, 2024

Orlando International Airport (KMCO) said it will stop operations Wednesday at 8 a.m. EST, although, according to a press release from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), the airport will remain open to emergency/aid and relief flights. The airport is not a shelter, and officials said commercial flights will resume when it is deemed safe to do so pending damage assessment and weather.

Operational Update/4 – Hurricane Milton
On Wednesday, at 8 a.m., commercial operations will cease at our airport. We'll continue to monitor the hurricane's path and we'll post updates as they become available. Please continue to work with your airline in regards to your flight. pic.twitter.com/lM8qaL8s7v

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 7, 2024

At Miami International Airport (KMIA), the largest and busiest airport in the Sunshine State, officials said they were “closely monitoring” the storm and encouraged travelers to check with the airlines to confirm flight status before venturing to the airport.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ) said it would close at 4 p.m. Tuesday EST, however, many flights had already been canceled.  

The FAA’s full list of  current airport closures may be found here.

SRQ is open until 4pm today and many flights have already been canceled.

We urge you to check with your airline directly to confirm if your flight is operating.

The airport will be closed tomorrow, October 9th and Thursday, October 10th.

#FlySRQ pic.twitter.com/B2x1NDFegK

— SRQ Airport (@SRQAirport) October 8, 2024

Milton is also impacting recreational flying. In Lakeland, Florida, the Flightoberfest festivities scheduled for Saturday on the Sun ’n Fun campus have been postponed, per a statement on the website.

“Our primary concern is the safety of our staff and guests,” event organizers said. The event has been rescheduled for November 16. 

The post Hurricane Milton Triggers Florida Airport Closures appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Hurricane Center warned that Helene would likely bring heavy rainfall and “devastating hurricane-force winds” inland to north Florida and Georgia on Friday.

A spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine Tyndall’s 95th Fighter Squadron relocated its F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada ahead of the storm warnings, noting that they will remain safe there until conditions improve at Tyndall. Meanwhile, officials at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia also evacuated its HH-60 combat rescue helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets to ensure their safety.

According to reports, Tyndall is still undergoing reconstruction due to damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018, which tore apart hangars and damaged several F-22 Raptors, causing some $5 billion in damage. Fortunately, Tyndall officials do not anticipate major disruptions from Helene.

Tyndall remains closed to non-mission-essential staff.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Tyndall Air Force Base Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Storm appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“This approval marks a critical milestone in Sterling’s strategic expansion and reinforces its commitment to delivering exceptional aviation education across multiple locations,” flight school officials said in a statement.

Benefits of Part 141 Programs

Having an FAA Part 141 certification enables the Tallahassee campus to offer a more structured curriculum, “designed to provide an accelerated path to a professional pilot career, meeting the highest standards of safety and efficiency,” according to the company.

“The FAA’s approval of our Tallahassee location for Part 141 training is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence in aviation education,” said Wayne Heller, CEO of Sterling Flight Training. “This expansion not only strengthens our ability to train the next generation of pilots but also enhances our capacity to serve the aviation needs of the Tallahassee community and beyond.”

School officials said the 141 program at the new location is designed to complement Sterling Flight Training’s Jacksonville, Florida, operation, which has been providing both recreational and career-oriented flight training for years. Certificate options include remote pilot (drones) through college degree programs and airline careers.

The post Sterling Flight Training Receives Part 141 Certification appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company on Tuesday announced a partnership with California-based vertiport developer and operator Skyway Technologies to install eVTOL hubs in South Florida and Puerto Rico. The partners plan to release more information on locations and routes in those markets in the coming months, with plans to launch service in 2026.

“Our partnership with UrbanLink is advancing the industry towards launching operations in the United States,” said Clifford Cruz, CEO of Skyway.

Similar to a heliport, a vertiport allows an eVTOL aircraft to take off and land vertically, with additional infrastructure for electric charging. In addition to design and operation, Skyway provides vertiport services such as air traffic management and mission planning.

The partnership is UrbanLink’s second in as many months following an agreement with Texas-based Ferrovial Vertiports to build a network of hubs in South Florida and the Los Angeles metro area.

Both collaborations are intended to set the stage for Lilium Jet operations across networks linking the takeoff and landing locations. The sites are also meant to serve “the broader [advanced air mobility (AAM)] industry,” UrbanLink says.

“In order to finance and build the vertiports needed to support the AAM industry, it is crucial to have multiple partners,” said Ed Wegel, who founded UrbanLink earlier this year and serves as chairman. “We are impressed with Skyway’s understanding of our business and their commitment to delivering well-designed, safe, and efficient vertiports in the U.S. and Caribbean.”

The operator is eyeing a 2026 U.S. commercial launch, which is in line with Lilium’s projections for when its flagship Lilium Jet will be ready for service.

The manufacturer is so far the only company to receive certification bases from both the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a commercial eVTOL design. It intends to fly on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as in the Middle East.

The Lilium Jet is expected to cruise at 162 knots on city-to-city trips spanning 25 to 125 sm (22 to 109 nm). It uses a propulsion system seldom seen on eVTOL designs, with a pair of electric motors feeding 10 independent battery packs that power 36 electric ducted fans embedded in the aircraft’s fixed wings. These allow it to hover and take off vertically like a helicopter, with minimal noise production or impact on cruise performance, Lilium says.

By contrast, manufacturers such as Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation employ tilting rotors and propellers that aid in both vertical and forward flight.

The unique propulsion system underwent initial testing in June ahead of the Lilium Jet’s first crewed flight, expected later this year. The manufacturer began building its first production prototype aircraft, which will be used to validate the design with regulators, in December.

Since partnering in May, Lilium and UrbanLink have moved quickly to target eVTOL jet operations in South Florida—which is poised to be Lilium’s U.S. base of operations—Los Angeles, Southern California, and Puerto Rico. Announcements for additional locations are on the horizon, they said Tuesday.

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The post Lilium Partner UrbanLink Targets eVTOL Jet Service in Caribbean appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to an arrest affidavit, Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Clermont’s Walmart store Wednesday in response to a drone being shot while flying on delivery.

Representatives from DroneUp, a new drone delivery service partnered with Walmart, told deputies they had a two-man crew in a nearby neighborhood promoting their company by doing mock deliveries. The crew was at the delivery point outside Dennis Winn’s residence in a cul-de-sac.

After the drone arrived and began its descent, one of the DroneUp employees told authorities a man, later identified as Winn, pointed a handgun at the drone. After hearing a gunshot, the crew ran to the van and drove back to Walmart. The damaged drone also returned to the store.

The crew spotted a bullet hole in the drone’s payload system and estimated the damage at $2,500. Deputies noted metal shavings consistent with bullet fragmentation. The complainant from DroneUp told deputies the drone will be inoperable for some time.

Questioned by a deputy at his home, Winn said the drone had flown over his house, so he shot at it with his 9 mm handgun. Winn told the deputy he had past experience with drones flying over his house and believed they were surveilling him.

The deputy said Winn reacted with disbelief when he was told he had shot a Walmart drone.

The deputy told Winn the damages amount to $10,000, which he had been advised were the damages at the time. Winn told the deputy that if he had to pay $10,000, then he wanted the drone as his personal property.

The deputy told Winn the round he shot had gone over several other residences, and he acknowledged his actions were reckless. The deputy notes in the affidavit that when officers arrived on the scene, a small child was playing in the cul-de-sac near Winn’s residence.

Winn was taken to Lake County Jail and charged with shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels or vehicles, criminal mischief of $1,000 or more in damage, and discharging a firearm in public or on residential property. Firing at an aircraft is a felony in Florida. Winn was released on $13,500 bond on Thursday.

According to Florida law, drones cannot be operated over or close to “critical infrastructure facilities” but can fly over residential neighborhoods.

That said, the state does not limit the authority of local governments to enact and enforce ordinances relating to nuisances, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, property damage or other illegal acts arising from the use of drones.

The representative from DroneUp told Lake County deputies that DroneUp is a drone delivery service defined by Florida statute and is governed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations concerning aeronautics and space.

A spokesperson from Walmart Inc. told FreightWaves the company was aware of the incident and referred questions to Lake County law enforcement. DroneUp did not immediately respond to FreightWaves’ request for comment. Winn also could not be reached for comment.

Author CALEB REVILL is a journalist, writer and lifelong learner working as a junior writer for Firecrown. When he isn’t tackling breaking news, Caleb is on the lookout for fascinating feature stories. Every person has a story to tell, and Caleb wants to help share them. He can be contacted by email anytime at Caleb.Revill@firecrown.com.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on FreightWaves.

The post Florida Man Arrested on Charges of Shooting Walmart Delivery Drone appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I ask my private pilot candidates this when the weather is unstable or marginal VFR and falling. If they determine the weather does not support the mission, they need to explain why they came to that decision.

Developing personal minimums and learning to make the go/no-go decision is an essential part of their training. Developing that skill set can be tough to do when you are being pressured by a CFI intent on accumulating hours or a flight school with a policy that seemingly requires flight operations that would be below personal minimums for many pilots.

For example, a recent weather cancellation policy memo from L3Harris Flight Academy, based at Orlando Sanford International Airport (KSFB) in Florida, started burning up the blogosphere, as it dictates that the weather must be below certain criteria before a flight can be canceled or penalties would be levied.

The cross-country flight minimum of visibility of 3 sm and the ceiling of 2,000 feet stated in the memo is generating the most discussion, due in part to the definition of Marginal VFR as ceiling 1,000 to 3,000 feet and/or visibility 3 to 5 miles inclusive. The minima in the memo puts the aircraft in MVFR and well below the minimum altitude for 91.159 VFR cruising altitudes. The chance of a collision with other aircraft and obstacles down low increases because it puts the cross-country pilot down among those doing maneuvers. 

There are L3Harris minima published for the cancellation of IFR flights as well. If the weather is equal to the lowest approach minimums at KSFB (there are three ILS approaches, so the aircraft can use those minimums that would take the aircraft down to 200 feet above ground) the flight is supposed to take place.

L3Harris is a Part 141 school and a pilot pipeline, ostensibly designed to create airline pilots as quickly and efficiently as possible. If the airplanes are not in the air, they don’t generate revenue, and the learners don’t progress in their training. It is frustrating and wasteful when a client no-shows or cancels at the last minute, but pushing these minima, and having the CFIs push them as company policy may be counterproductive to the creation of safe pilots.

FLYING was provided with a copy of the L3Harris memo from pilots concerned about it “sending the wrong message” and “encouraging scud running,” in addition to creating an atmosphere of extra pressure for both the pilots in training and the instructors.

The June 12 memo said: “To accurately predict equipment availability and efficiency in the schedule, we are adopting a new cancellation policy. If the weather conditions are at or better than the limitations, a cancellation is considered non-excusable.”

According to social media posts from people representing themselves as former or current clients or CFIs at L3Harris, the school allegedly requires the pilots to arrive at school an hour before flight time, and cancellations must be done in person, or the client is charged a $250 no-show fee. 

The memo continues by encouraging the pilots to “be creative in your plan of action,” such as “changing routes to avoid deteriorating weather or thunderstorms. Be sure to use all available weather resources including but not limited to: local news reports, aviationweather.gov, ForeFlight, etc. In the event your flying proficiency does not meet the current weather, please speak with your Training Group Manager concerning a plan of action.

“No flights shall be flown in the area of a convective SIGMET without the approval of the chief flight instructor or their designee. All thunderstorms must be avoided by a margin consistent with safety. All severe thunderstorms should be avoided by at least 20 nm.”

Thunderstorms are often a daily occurrence in the Sunshine State yet “severe thunderstorms” was not defined. Last September in Kentucky we saw the fatal result of a CFI continuing a flight into approaching thunderstorms. Departing an airport in marginal weather limits the pilot’s options should the weather begin or continue to deteriorate.

• READ MORE: NTSB Preliminary Report on Kentucky Fatal Crash Released

The memo has been the topic of discussion at FAA safety meetings. The most common question was, “Is this legal in the eyes of the FAA?” 

FLYING contacted the FAA and the agency replied: “VFR weather minimums are in Parts 91.155 and 91.157. Flight schools operating under Part 61 must comply with these minima. Flight schools operating under Part 141 may have additional minima established by their FAA Flight Standards District Office as part of their training curriculum.”

Legally, the L3Harris memo complies with FAA regulations. Is it an exercise in good judgment and aeronautical decision-making? I don’t believe so, and I am not the only one. 

“Imposing mandatory weather minimums for student flight dispatch—to expedite flight training efficiency and protect profit margins—is both dangerous and counterproductive to building essential weather judgment,” said David St. George, executive director of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators and a DPE. “This industrial flight training methodology, to improve dispatch rates, destroys the central focus of the FAA ACS—personal risk management.”

Added Karen Kalishek, chair of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI): “NAFI has two primary areas of concern regarding L3Harris Flight Academy’s published weather policy regarding non-excusable cancellations: One, There are many instances in which weather quickly deteriorates, and the L3Harris stated weather minima provide little margin for pilots to escape potentially decreasing ceilings and/or visibility, and two, imposed weather minimums are inconsistent with the FAA’s intent that pilots should develop personal minimums that reflect their individual levels of proficiency and experience.

“The policy provides for a pilot to assess their personal proficiency and speak to a manager for an alternative plan of action. However, the ‘non-excusable’ terminology supports application of the default minimums.”

Attempts to find out if L3Harris operates with “additional minima established by their FAA Flight Standards District Office” were not successful, despite sending multiple emails and placing phone calls to the local FSDO and David Krug Jr., who signed the memo as the L3Harris chief flight instructor/head of flight training. 

When FLYING reached Krug, he said he was aware the flight academy weather cancellation memo was a topic of conversation in the pilot blogosphere, adding, “I cannot speak to internal information. I am not going to say anything. We are addressing it internally. I understand the situation.”

There were multiple posts on social media from individuals who contacted the Orlando FSDO to report the perceived safety issues. A few posted the emails they received from the FSDO in reply, stating that their concerns were logged and an investigator had been or would be assigned. A check of the signature on the email corresponds to the Orlando FSDO employee directory.

According to the FAA, the agency does investigate safety concerns but “does not confirm or comment on investigations.”

Risk Part of Flight Training

Flight safety is about managing risk. The FAA’s Risk Management Handbook explores how pilots should evaluate risk, and that includes establishing personal weather minimums.

In Chapter 2, it states, “federal regulations that apply to aviation do not cover every situation nor do they guarantee safety,” noting that “pilots who understand the difference between what is ‘smart’ or ‘safe’ based on pilot experience and proficiency establish personal minimums that are more restrictive than the regulatory requirements.”

Flight instructors are often the gatekeepers of personal minima—done in the form of limitations on a learner’s solo endorsement.

For example, the initial solo endorsement I give lists weather for flight in the pattern as 3 miles visibility and a 3,000 foot ceiling, and for the practice area, 5 miles of visibility. A weather briefing is a requirement as well. Crosswinds are limited to 6 knots, and that limitation is lifted and increased as the learner’s experience grows.

For the initial cross-country flights, visibility increases to 10 miles and the ceiling to 5,000 feet. After I review their flight plan, the trip-specific endorsement includes noting “weather checked as of (insert time).” 

I wouldn’t feel comfortable or responsible sending a learner out solo on a cross-country flight with 3 miles visibility and a 2,000-foot ceiling as noted in the L3Harris minima. 

There Is a Time and a Place

Personal weather minima is a fluid concept. It’s good to go out and stretch those skills from time to time with a CFI onboard. It can be a beneficial learning experience.

Weather minima are often dictated not only by the pilot’s experience but also proficiency and the mission. You probably wouldn’t take your non-flying, airplane-shy significant other up on a day with gusting crosswinds or turbulence.

A CFI (personally or by virtue of company policy) shouldn’t be pressuring the learner into making the flight, but it happens. Especially when the CFI and or company only gets paid when the propeller is turning.

Sometimes, the decision not to fly is the best choice. But it needs to be a choice and not something the client is financially penalized for.

The post Weather Minimums Memo at Florida Flight School Generates Controversy appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

UrbanLink Air Mobility, a newly formed operator of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft that in May agreed to purchase and operate 20 Lilium Jets, on Monday partnered with Ferrovial Vertiports to build a network of takeoff and landing hubs in South Florida and Southern California, including Los Angeles. The partners plan to add more locations to the network.

While not explicitly named in the agreement, Lilium in 2021 enlisted Ferrovial, the parent company of Ferrovial Vertiports, to build at least 10 vertiports covering “all major cities across Florida.” UrbanLink intends to launch initial eVTOL routes using the Lilium Jet by summer 2026, one year later than the planned U.S. debuts of eVTOL air taxi companies Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation.

“This partnership is a critical step in accelerating the deployment of our Lilium Jets and enhancing connectivity in the U.S., bringing us one step closer to making AAM a reality,” said UrbanLink chairman Ed Wegel, who founded the company in May.

Wegel is also the founder and former CEO of Global Crossing Airlines, for which he currently serves as a board member, and recently founded a scheduled carrier startup, Zoom! Airlines, that will deploy Embraer E-Jets. He said Zoom! will “work closely” with UrbanLink to provide passenger connections.

For UrbanLink and Lilium to succeed, they will need to have the proper infrastructure in place. Vertiports are to eVTOLs what airports are to commercial airliners. Without them, the aircraft lack a place to take off, land, and charge.

The Lilium Jet is no exception. It uses 36 electric ducted fans embedded in its wings for vertical propulsion, which the company says greatly reduces noise. Compared to propeller-based eVTOL designs, the aircraft sacrifices efficiency during the takeoff and hover phase in exchange for more efficient cruising on its fixed wings.

The manufacturer’s flagship model is designed for a pilot and up to six passengers, cruising at 162 knots on trips between towns and inner cities spanning 25 to 125 sm (22 to 109 nm).

UrbanLink and Ferrovial Vertiports will collaborate on vertiport site selection, facility design, and planning for future Lilium Jet operations, beginning with the manufacturer’s planned South Florida network. In February, Lilium tapped Orlando International Airport (KMCO) to be the main hub in that system and is working with the airport to install a vertiport.

Fractional aircraft ownership firm NetJets is also part of the company’s South Florida plans, having signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2022 for the purchase of up to 150 jets. Houston-based Bristow Group will provide maintenance services, and FlightSafety International has agreed to train eVTOL pilots for the company.

Outside Florida, UrbanLink and Ferrovial view Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region as the next potential market for the Lilium Jet.

Notably, Ferrovial Vertiports locations are intended to be accessible to any eVTOL design, meaning UrbanLink—or another operator—could one day use them to host multiple aircraft models.

“Our focus is on ensuring that an agnostic vertiport network is in place for operators like UrbanLink when eVTOLs gain certification,” said Kevin Cox, CEO of Ferrovial Vertiports.

On that front, Lilium hopes to achieve European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification as a Part 21 commercial aircraft in 2025. The aircraft has already received its certification basis, and Lilium in November became one of the first eVTOL manufacturers to receive EASA design organization approval (DOA), a required step for companies developing commercial designs.

The company is also the only eVTOL manufacturer to hold type certification bases from both EASA and the FAA. It hopes to leverage that status by activating the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the two regulators.

UrbanLink, meanwhile, claims it will be the first U.S. airline to integrate eVTOL aircraft into its fleet. eVTOL air taxi firms Archer and Joby have partnerships with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, respectively. Archer will operate its flagship Midnight model on behalf of United through its Part 135 subsidiary, Archer Air, while Joby will operate its aircraft through Delta’s channels.

In addition, Lilium will work with FBO network Atlantic Aviation to electrify its network of more than 100 terminals. According to the manufacturer, Atlantic operates FBOs at 30 airports across South Florida, Texas, Southern California, and the Northeast Corridor, which comprise its planned U.S. launch markets. The partners will build eVTOL infrastructure at existing and future locations.

Atlantic is also collaborating with Archer, Joby, and another U.S. eVTOL manufacturer, Beta Technologies.

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The post Lilium Partner UrbanLink Eyes California eVTOL Expansion appeared first on FLYING Magazine.