Tampa International Airport and the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) are making big plans for the future of flight in Tampa Bay. They’re called eVTOL aircraft, which stands for electric vertical take-off and landing. These are aircraft that use electric power to take off, hover, and land vertically. In other words, electric airplanes. It’s a rapidly-developing technology, which is why the HCAA is preparing for it now.
“This industry is moving very quickly. So it’s either going to happen all around us or you’re goanna make sure you’re a part of that conversation and the planning process to get ready for this,” says Brett Fay, HCAA Director of General Aviation.
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HCAA oversees TPA and the smaller airports around the area, including Tampa Executive Airport. The HCAA has recently formed an Advanced Aviation Technology Committee to begin planning for the use of eVTOLs in the hopefully not too distant future.
There are many companies working on eVTOL technology and are hoping for certification as early as 2024. If Hillsborough County starts planning now, it could be home to some of the first “vertiports” in the nation.
“I think Tampa Executive is a great example of an airport that is strategically located right at the intersection of I-75 and I-4. It’s near the Hard Rock and the fairgrounds, Brandon. Close enough to Disney, or the beaches if you’re going over to Clearwater, St. Pete for the day,” Fay explains.
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Fay believes Tampa Executive Airport could be an urban mobility hub that can serve as a center for eVTOL activity. TPA is already in talks with some of the world’s companies that deal with this kind of technology. Although it’s unclear which will be the first company to bring this exciting opportunity to the Tampa Bay area.
TPA plans for Advanced Air Mobility from Tampa International Airport on Vimeo.