From the ground to the sky, Lake Nona is pioneering the future of transportation.
Connectivity is at our core here in Lake Nona, ranging from gigabit infrastructure and a growing 5G network powered by Verizon that connect us digitally to the country’s longest-running autonomous shuttle program and miles of trails that connect us physically.
Recently, Lake Nona’s connectivity network got a lot bigger, thanks to an announcement for plans to build the country’s first regional hub for high-speed, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Known as the Lake Nona Vertiport, the first-of-its-kind aviation facility will serve as the central location for a regional mobility network in Florida, designed to usher in a new era of city-to-city transportation.
Scheduled to be operational by 2025, the Lake Nona Vertiport will be built in partnership with the City of Orlando and Lilium, a Munich-based aviation company that manufacturers a one-of-a-kind, five-passenger eVTOL aircraft.
“We are delighted to partner with Lilium to create the first U.S. network of vertiports and to launch within Lake Nona’s living lab, allowing unrivalled connectivity unlike anything developed in the country to date,” said Ben Weaver, managing director at Tavistock. “This new air mobility network highlights our passion and commitment to groundbreaking partnerships and new technologies that sets us apart as a city of the future.”
The all-electric Lilium Jets can currently travel up to 186 miles on a one-hour charge, allowing passengers departing from Lake Nona to reach Florida’s major metros faster than ever before. For example, a trip from Lake Nona to Tampa on the Lilium Jet could take less than 30 minutes! The on-demand air travel can be facilitated through an app on your phone, similar to services like Uber and Lyft. The piloted jets can accommodate up to four passengers. Initially, costs are expected to be similar to a business-class plane ticket and, like all emerging technologies, will ultimately decrease as regional air mobility becomes more mainstream.
The Lake Nona Vertiport design is both functional and unique to resemble Lake Nona’s iconic art and distinct architectural style. Located in Lake Nona’s commercial airport district just south of Medical City and east of Boggy Creek Road, the seven-acre vertiport will include two takeoff and landing areas, eight gates for jets, and a passenger terminal.
“We are thrilled to partner with Tavistock and build the first stretch of Florida’s high-speed, electric transportation network with Central Florida at its core,” said Dr. Remo Gerber, Lilium’s chief operating officer.
Safety is Lilium’s top priority. The company’s jets deliver the same safety standards as today’s commercial aircraft with substantially less noise, faster speeds, and zero emissions. The Lilium Jets feature customized electric motors and innovative technology that make them inaudible from the ground and only as loud as a passing truck during takeoff and landing.
Once the eVTOL aircrafts arrive in Lake Nona, they will be regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Lake Nona Vertiport, like any new airport, is currently seeking the required approval from the FAA and Florida Department of Transportation.
So how did this innovative, new transportation technology find its home in Lake Nona? It started with direction from the City of Orlando when leaders identified advanced air mobility as the next frontier of transportation for cities. The city’s vision is not just to be one of the first with eVTOL flights but to be the first city to properly engage the community and set up operations in a way that optimizes a network for residents and visitors. The city has a long history of public-private partnerships that laid the groundwork for Lilium and Lake Nona to bring regional air mobility to Florida.
“For this new technology to truly reshape the transportation ecosystem and benefit Orlando residents long-term, it is going to take a true partnership between cities, developers, and transportation operators,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We have been focused on finding the right partners to be a global leader in the advanced air mobility space. I’m thrilled that our progressive and collaborative environment has created an opportunity for this unique partnership between the City of Orlando, Lilium, and Lake Nona to invest in the expansion of safe, efficient, and environmentally-friendly transportation options throughout one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.”
Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings added, “Our region strives for collaboration and innovation and to become the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Thank you to Lilium and Tavistock for helping us embrace the future of rethinking transportation and helping transform travel with Florida’s first flying taxi. This is truly The Jetsons coming to reality in Central Florida’s backyard.”
This groundbreaking regional mobility hub is the latest addition to Orlando’s aerotropolis in Lake Nona’s growing aviation, aerospace, and defense cluster that is already home to the BBA Aviation/Signature Flight Support headquarters and the recently-announced global training facility for SIMCOM Aviation Training. Like its new neighbors, the Lake Nona Vertiport will create new job opportunities in the Orlando area, with hundreds more to follow throughout Florida.
To learn more about the Lake Nona Vertiport, visit LakeNona.com.
