Personal Aircraft Requiring No Certificate to Fly Hits U.S. Market

Pivotal’s Helix is an electric vertical takeoff and landing design that qualifies as a Part 103 ultralight built for recreational flyers.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 05:37 PM ET

Verified

A digital rendering of Pivotal’s Helix, a personal eVTOL aircraft that requires no certificate to fly and is now on sale in the U.S. [Courtesy: Pivotal]

Key Takeaways:

Pivotal has launched online sales of Helix, an eVTOL personal flying vehicle, in the U.S. starting at $190,000, with initial customer shipments scheduled for June.
Classified as a Part 103 ultralight aircraft, the Helix does not require a pilot certificate to fly, making personal aviation accessible after a short, required training program.
The aircraft features intuitive joystick controls, a unique "tilt aircraft" design for vertical and horizontal flight, and numerous safety systems for ease of use and pilot protection.
Designed for personal and recreational use, the Helix operates under specific FAA restrictions (e.g., daytime flight, Class G airspace, limited range/speed).

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If you’ve dreamed of taking to the skies but are too busy to put in the hours for a full program of flight training, there’s a strange new aircraft you can fly without a certificate—and it’s now on sale in the U.S.

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Pivotal this week opened online sales of Helix, a personal flying vehicle for first-time aviators and experienced pilots alike. Like a video game, Helix is controlled by a single pilot using a pair of simple joysticks, plus fly-by-wire controls. For $190,000, Pivotal will train customers to fly it and send them on their way in their very own aircraft.