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

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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 sales of Helix, an eVTOL personal flying vehicle, uniquely qualifying as a Part 103 ultralight, enabling individuals to fly it without a pilot's certificate after completing a short training program.
Priced from $190,000 with initial shipments in June, the Helix is controlled by simple joysticks, features a distinct "tilt aircraft" architecture for efficiency, and includes safety measures like autotakeoff/landing and a ballistic parachute.
While making personal flight more accessible, its ultralight classification imposes operational restrictions such as daytime-only flight in Class G airspace, a limited range of approximately 20 miles, and a top speed of 63 mph.

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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.