St. Petersburg aviation: Joby tests electric air taxi route

A new type of aircraft flew over Tampa Bay on Friday, following a path that helped establish commercial aviation 112 years ago. Joby Aviation, based in California, operated a piloted, all-electric air taxi from Albert Whitted Airport in downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport. This flight inaugurated a week of demonstrations across Florida intended to test how electric aircraft might integrate into the state's transportation grid.

The route chosen for the test has deep historical roots. On Jan. 1, 1914, pilot Tony Jannus transported former St. Petersburg Mayor Abe Pheil across the bay in a Benoist flying boat. That flight inaugurated the world's first scheduled commercial airline service. The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line charged $5 for the one-way ticket, which took approximately 23 minutes to complete.

Joby’s aircraft uses a different method for short-distance travel. It takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter before switching to forward flight using electric propulsion. The vehicle is designed to carry one pilot and four passengers. It has a projected top speed of 200 miles per hour and a range of about 100 miles.

These specifications could make travel between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa International Airport faster than driving, especially during heavy bridge traffic. The practical benefit depends on passenger fares, access to landing facilities, and the time required to board and reach final destinations.

Friday’s flight is part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s electric vertical takeoff and landing Integration Pilot Program. Florida is one of eight national projects selected to help determine how these aircraft can operate safely alongside conventional planes. The program will gather data on airport operations, aircraft noise, and vertiport procedures. Vertiports are specialized facilities where electric aircraft take off, land, and recharge.

The tests coincide with Florida’s development of an Aerial Highway Network to connect cities via short-distance air transport. The Florida Department of Transportation has planned for advanced air mobility since 2021. In April, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1093, authorizing FDOT to fund vertiport infrastructure. The department is also developing SunTrax Air, an advanced aviation testing facility near Interstate 4.

Further demonstrations are planned at Orlando International Airport, where a vertiport was built near Terminal C and the airport train station, and at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the flights will provide information needed to set safety standards for routine operations. Joby is still completing the FAA aircraft certification process. The company has not announced a launch date, ticket prices, or a permanent St. Petersburg route.