Hyde County Emergency Medical Services in North Carolina deployed this unique Pivotal BlackFly aircraft to respond to real 911 calls. [Credit: Pivotal]
Key Takeaways:
Hyde County EMS in North Carolina has become the first in the nation to deploy Pivotal's BlackFly eVTOL aircraft for emergency response, allowing paramedics to reach remote scenes significantly faster than traditional ambulances.
Paramedics underwent extensive training to operate the single-seat, vertical takeoff and fixed-wing aircraft, navigating complex FAA regulations to use it for public aircraft operations.
This pioneering initiative serves as a "playbook" for future expansion, with Pivotal planning to develop more advanced eVTOL models for broader EMS applications like blood delivery, anticipating gradual adoption and technological progression.
Quinn Reece, a paramedic with Hyde County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in North Carolina, is not your average first responder.
Recently, Reece responded to a 911 call about 20 minutes faster than an ambulance. The seemingly impossible feat was enabled by a unique aircraft that lifts off vertically like a helicopter but tilts forward to fly on fixed wings.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
