2 Electric Aircraft Land at Tampa International

Florida Department of Transportation is evaluating prototypes as it develops plans for statewide aerial highway network.

Jack Daleo

Friday, October 30, 2026 at 03:34 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Joby Aviation's vertically capable electric prototype (left) flies in formation with Beta Technology's conventional takeoff and landing electric prototype. [Credit: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

Florida has launched its eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) with demonstration flights by Joby Aviation's eVTOL and Beta Technologies' electric CTOL aircraft, including a flight recreating a historic 1914 route into Tampa International Airport.
The FDOT-led eIPP aims to gather crucial operational data from these advanced electric aircraft to help the FAA establish safety standards for various future applications, such as passenger transport, cargo, and medical response.
These demonstrations are a key step in Florida's broader five-year plan to develop an "interstate aerial highway network" utilizing electric and eVTOL aircraft, which will require significant new vertiport infrastructure at major airports.

See a mistake? Contact us.

A pair of electric aircraft prototypes landed on the runway at Tampa International Airport (KTPA) on Friday as Florida looks to evaluate a planned aerial highway network.

According to FlightAware, Joby Aviation’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) prototype registered N545JX took off from Albert Whitted Airport (KSPG) in St. Petersburg at 10:01 a.m. EDT and landed at Tampa International (KTPA) 20 minutes later. Per audio captured on the ATC app, the air taxi circled in the Tampa area before entering Class B airspace. It then made a low approach and entered the right downwind to land at Tampa International’s Runway 1R.