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Personal Aircraft Requiring No Certificate to Fly Gains Customers Nationwide

Pivotal’s BlackFly prototype, the predecessor of its Helix production model, has been delivered to 13 customers across the U.S.

Tuesday, October 01, 2024 at 09:24 AM ET

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The U.S. Air Force is among the early adopters of Pivotal’s BlackFly, which it is evaluating for various defense missions. [Courtesy: Matthew Clouse/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Pivotal is delivering its BlackFly and Helix personal eVTOL aircraft, which qualify as FAA Part 103 ultralights, meaning no pilot certification is required to fly them.
Thirteen BlackFly prototypes have been delivered to date, going to both private customers through an early access program and the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. Air Force is evaluating the BlackFly for missions such as surveillance, logistics, and emergency response, due to its minimal space requirements for takeoff/landing, electric power, and rapid deployment.

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BENTONVILLE, Arkansas—A personal electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that requires no pilot certification to fly is taking to the skies of California, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and other U.S. states.

Here at UP.Summit 2024—a private gathering of some 300 movers and shakers in the transportation industry—manufacturer Pivotal on Tuesday said it has delivered 13 of its BlackFly prototype aircraft to customers nationwide. Those users, which include both private owners and the U.S. Air Force, are some of the first in the world to pilot an eVTOL design.

Jack Daleo

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.