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 an eVTOL aircraft (Pivotal's BlackFly), enabling a paramedic to respond to emergency calls significantly faster than an ambulance.
Paramedics underwent extensive training to pilot the single-seat eVTOL, providing advanced life support at the scene while awaiting an ambulance, demonstrating the potential to drastically reduce initial response times in geographically challenging areas.
This pioneering program involved overcoming significant regulatory hurdles with the FAA and local air traffic control, with future plans to develop more specialized EMS eVTOL models and explore applications like uncrewed medical deliveries.
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.
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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.
