First eVTOL to Fly Commercially in U.S. Begins Spraying Crops in California

Guardian Agriculture, which also claims the title of the first eVTOL to be certified by the FAA for commercial operations, began serving its first customer this week.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, December 05, 2023 at 03:45 PM ET

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Guardian Agriculture’s SC1 eVTOL can cover up to 60 acres per hour, the company claims. [Courtesy: Guardian Agriculture]

Key Takeaways:

Guardian Agriculture has launched the first commercial eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) operation in the U.S., utilizing its SC1 aircraft for crop spraying services in California.
The autonomous, electric SC1 system is designed for commercial-scale sustainable farming, offering efficiency, safety, and the ability to cover up to 60 acres per hour without a pilot.
Unlike passenger air taxis, Guardian Agriculture has secured nationwide FAA approval for commercial operations and is actively serving paying customers, a milestone that could build public trust and inform future regulatory processes for the broader eVTOL industry.

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Much ado has been made about the commercial launch of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis in the U.S., with the earliest entrants expected to begin passenger-carrying operations in 2025. However, one eVTOL manufacturer has already begun serving customers.

Massachusetts-based Guardian Agriculture on Monday announced that its Guardian SC1, designed for commercial-scale sustainable farming, began spraying crops for a customer in California’s Salinas Valley region. Guardian claims the aircraft is the first eVTOL design to fly commercially in the U.S., which would mark a key milestone for the emerging industry.