Overview
- The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board approved the development of a temporary 'vertistop' at MCO’s Surface Lot Atlantis in mid‑July to host electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) demonstrations.
- Airport officials plan to begin site work soon and to run demonstrations and high‑fidelity airspace simulations in partnership with the FAA, FDOT, NASA, local air‑traffic control and NATCA, subject to FAA approval.
- Officials say demonstration flights could occur by the end of 2026 if the FAA signs off, but they stress that certified passenger service is still years away and not imminent.
- Local reporting estimates the initial project near $2.5 million and GOAA says the temporary site will use minimal infrastructure under FAA guidance while testing procedures, surveillance and tracking systems.
- The effort aims to inform a possible on‑airport vertiport by about 2030 and could reshape airport‑to‑resort travel, but key limits include federal certification, aircraft range and capacity, luggage handling, weather, noise and pricing.