Florida Plans for Flying AVs

[Charles Hunter]

An article in today's Business Journal highlights FDOT's preparations for the advent of flying autonomous vehicles.

FDOT pursues 'highway in the sky' to combat growing interstate congestion

As Florida's interstates continue to face growing congestion and delayed commutes, Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing transportation leaders to begin work on an aerial highway that could offer another alternative to move around the state.

The Florida Department of Transportation will build two Advanced Air Mobility vertiports at its SunTrax testing facility in Auburndale. The facility was originally created to test autonomous vehicles. This will be the first AAM aerial test bed and dedicated airspace in the U.S. The goal is to eventually expand to a statewide network of interconnected commercial vertiports.
...
As the vehicles undergo certification with the Federal Aviation Administration, FDOT wants to have the infrastructure in place to usher in the new era of transit. The aerial network mirrors surface roadways and the highway system.
...
[Will] Watts [an FDOT Assistant Secretary] said they anticipate some early adopters receiving certification by the end of 2026. He said Florida wants to be ready to safely begin accommodating those new vehicles.
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FDOT has released its aerial network plan, which includes two phases of development across the state. The plan includes the testing, validation and scale of air-taxi, cargo and emergency management use cases. Each phase incorporates the airports in and around the city centers brought into the network.

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2025/10/29/fdot-interstate-congestion-aerial-highway.html?ana=e_JA_me&j=42256342&senddate=2025-10-30&empos=p1

Jacksonville is in Phase 2A (Daytona Beach to Jacksonville, includes St. Augustine) Phase 2D (Jacksonville to Tallahassee - Lake City is in Phase 2C)

The article does not say how much FDOT is investing in this effort.

The article says, "Each phase incorporates the airports in and around the city centers brought into the network."
First, it is interesting they only use existing airports - why not build 'vertipads' near the city center? And, given that limitation, where would Jacksonville's vertipad be? Driving distance from downtown (City Hall) to the four airports
Cecil 20
JAX 15
Herlong 11.5
Craig 9.3
Depending on how much land is needed, it seems a site could be found closer to the "city center." On the other hand, JAX (and maybe Cecil and Craig?) already has rental-car and ride-sharing (Uber/Lyft) infrastructure.

SunTrax already exists; apparently, the air facilities are being added.

SunTrax is a large-scale, innovative facility developed by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (part of the Florida Department of Transportation), dedicated to the research, development, and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments.
https://suntraxfl.com/

Toll-collection technology was one of the first (and continuing) test beds for SunTrax.

[jaxlongtimer]

Like the origins of aviation, I see lots of fatalities incurred before this technology gets to the safety levels the public expects nowadays.

The picture shows what amounts to a helicopter and those are in far more accidents than airplanes after all these years of flying, though maybe with all those propellers they might be a bit more reliable.

A big issue will be air traffic control which, currently, can hardly keep up with existing air traffic.

[copperfiend]

And you thought the stretch of 95 around the World Golf Village was dangerous on the ground.

[Charles Hunter]

I agree with both of you. People, and AVs, have enough trouble driving safely in 2D, operating in 3D is asking for crashes.

[Charles Hunter]

Florida to test flying cars by year's end

By the end of the year, Florida will be actively testing flying cars at a facility in Polk County, according to the governor.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the ambitious timeline on Monday at the Florida Department of Transportation's 775-acre SunTrax testing facility in Auburndale. FDOT was one of eight projects selected by the Federal Aviation Administration to help develop regulations for the aircraft as part of the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program.
...
As part of the initiative, FDOT is building two AAM vertiports at the facility. The site is the first Advanced Air Mobility aerial test bed and dedicated airspace in the country. The project will have three phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation and medical response.
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In April, DeSantis signed a bill to pave the way for allowing vertiports and their charging systems to qualify for public-private partnerships. That decision acts as a green light for companies eying Florida as a site for future expansion. Essentially, the bill allows FDOT to fund a public vertiport project if federal funds are unavailable. Ensuring there is built-out infrastructure across the state will be key in enticing companies to bring this innovative industry to Florida.

The small aircraft are considered by many to be the next major innovation in aviation. They can transport people and cargo at low altitudes with little noise. If they begin operating in the region, someone could hop on the aircraft in Sarasota or Tampa and be in Orlando in 30 to 40 minutes. That, in turn, could pull drivers off the roadways, making commuting safer and faster for those sticking to a traditional commute.

DeSantis also announced that Polk State College and Daytona Beach-based Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are partnering with the state to create workforce programs to address the burgeoning industry that will target air traffic controllers, pilots and vehicle maintenance. In June, DeSantis also awarded $3 million to Pasco-Hernando State College to strengthen its aeronautical workforce programs.

"Florida's strategic investments in advanced air mobility and autonomous vehicles will help create high-paying jobs while building the skilled workforce needed to support this emerging industry," Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas said. "SunTrax provides an invaluable resource for hands-on training and research, giving our students rare opportunities to gain experience with cutting-edge technology right here in Polk County. This partnership will help position our students for success while driving innovation and economic growth throughout the region and across Florida."


https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2026/08/11/fdot-to-test-flying-cars-by-years-end-at-suntrax.html?ana=e_JA_me&j=46990773&senddate=2026-08-11&empos=p2

Interesting that the part in italics wasn't attributed to either DeSantis or Purdue. Did the reporter infer that, or did one of the state officials say something like that, but the reporter didn't quote them? It is absurd to think flying Teslas could have any impact on I-4's (or any) congestion.

[jaxlongtimer]

^ NAVI already outdated!  Why take a ground based AV when you can take one that flies?! 

This is clearly a place where AV is a must.  Can you imagine the "little 'ol lady from Pasadena" flying one of these things?  As Charles noted, people can't drive safely in 2D, imagine them doing so in 3D.

[Charles Hunter]

And what happens when the Flying AVs perform a Waymo-follow-the-leader-in-a-circle move?