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 opened online sales for Helix, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with a starting price of $190,000 and initial customer shipments slated for June.
Classified as a Part 103 ultralight, the Helix does not require FAA pilot certification, making personal flight accessible to first-time aviators after a two-week training program.
The aircraft features intuitive joystick controls, a unique "tilt aircraft" architecture that eliminates moving parts, and includes safety features like autotakeoff/landing and a ballistic parachute.
Operational restrictions for the ultralight include daytime flight in Class G airspace, a maximum range of 20 sm, 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.