ORLANDO, Fla. — Now, that we have crossed over into 2026, it’s officially the year of highways in the skies.
What You Need To Know
- To relieve some of the roadway congestion, the Florida Department of Transportation wants to take drivers off the road and into the air
- FDOT has been working to build infrastructure to accommodate flying taxis, with a goal to start commercial services for passengers at the end of this year
- According to FDOT, the advanced air mobility network would eventually spread across the state of Florida, but the first phase is a stretch that includes airports from Daytona Beach through Orlando and to Sarasota
The Florida Department of Transportation has been working to build infrastructure to accommodate flying taxis, with a goal to start commercial services for passengers at the end of this year.
These would be similar to an Uber service, but instead of sitting in the car in traffic on I-4, it would take riders into the air to get to their destinations. The first phase of this project is in Central Florida.
The focus is the I-4 corridor.
“Horrible, horrible,” said Margaret Ramirez, who often drives on I-4. “Too much traffic.”
To relieve some of that congestion, FDOT wants to take drivers off the road and into the air.
“I mean kind of like the Jetsons. Everything is coming to the future,” Ramirez said.
There can be a wide range of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as VTOL’s, that could be used.
“We are waiting on a lot of different pieces to fall into place,” said Dr. Bob Thomas, a professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
In a plan provided by the Florida Department of Transportation, the first phase of the project will cover the I-4 corridor. (FDOT)
Thomas said it is possible for this technology to take off in 2026, but there aren’t many details yet.
“There is a lot of questions as to what kind of vehicles are actually going to be approved by the FAA, pilot certification, the duration of the flights, whether they are using electric power or standard combustion powered aircraft or a hybrid model,” Thomas said.
According to FDOT, the advanced air mobility network would eventually spread across the state of Florida, but the first phase is the stretch that includes airports from Daytona Beach through Orlando and to Sarasota.
“Unless it was very economical, which I imagine it is not going to be, I don’t see myself using it right off the bat,” said Jeannette Eberle, who lives in Winter Haven.
There are many unanswered questions, like the potential cost of the services. In the coming months, FDOT plans to complete the headquarters in Polk County for the aerial highway network and test out this technology before passengers take flight at the end of the year.
“I’ll be the first passenger,” Ramirez said.
The countdown begins to get the right infrastructure and people in place to make this happen in the next 12 months.
