Volunteer paramedics in North Carolina will soon take part in a “proof-of-concept” program that will put them in the seat of an ultralight, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Hyde County Emergency Services in North Carolina will fly the aircraft manufactured by Palo Alto-based Pivotal, which said Friday that the project aims to accelerate emergency response times for “critical care calls.” The aircraft—which lifts off vertically like a helicopter but cruises on fixed tandem wings—will soar over traffic and terrain, the idea being for it to escort first responders to the scene before an ambulance arrives.
Pivotal said the vehicles will not transport any patients, cargo, or delivery equipment—at least, for now.
“The initial phase is designed to build the framework for sustained airmobile emergency services response, and we expect it could deliver measurable life-saving benefits from the start,” Ken Karklin, CEO of Pivotal, said in a statement.
In addition to emergency medical services, the aircraft will support law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue operations in Hyde County, such as assessing damage after a hurricane or thunderstorm.
The approximately 15-by-15-foot aircraft will be able to land on grass, asphalt, pavement, snow, and even ice. Brook Cox, director of emergency medical services for Hyde County, said the ability to operate without a runway or other specialized infrastructure “opens entirely new possibilities for situational awareness, operational reach, and scalable response.”
“As the First in Flight state, North Carolina has always led in aviation innovation,” added Carla Baker, president of emergency training provider Code Blue Resources, which is also participating in the project. “Integrating eVTOLs into public safety is our chance to lead again.”
The proof-of-concept program comes on the heels of a series of demonstrations Pivotal conducted in 2025 with three fire agencies in California.
“The ability to rapidly deploy with minimal infrastructure opens the door to faster, more flexible responses in complex terrain,” said San Bernardino County Fire Department’s Shawn Millerick. “And that has real implications for saving lives.”
Electric Aircraft for Emergencies
Pivotal’s aircraft qualify as Part 103 ultralight models, meaning they do not require a pilot certification to fly. Operators instead complete Pivotal’s in-house training course, which can take as little as two weeks.
The aircraft can accommodate occupants with a weight up to 220 pounds and standing height up to 6 feet 5 inches. It is controlled using a simple joystick to manipulate a fly-by-wire system, with a digital display aiding navigation.
VTOL capability comes from the vehicle’s unique tandem-wing, “tilt-aircraft” architecture. Other eVTOL models feature vertical rotors or propellers that tilt forward to support fixed wings during cruise flight. Pivotal’s design includes eight fixed rotors on an airframe which itself is designed to tilt when transitioning into and out of hover.
The aircraft can take off in winds up to 20 mph and temperature between 14 and 91℉, cruising at about 63 mph while producing less noise than a helicopter. It has a range of about 20 miles, taking about 75 minutes to charge from 20 to 95 percent. It can continue flying with two rotors out, with a landing camera, ballistic parachute, and anti-collision lights for added safety.
The vehicle can also be disassembled to fit within a 16-foot trailer and reassembled for flight within 30 minutes.
The U.S. Air Force in 2024 received eight Pivotal BlackFly preproduction prototypes, which it evaluated for a year before returning to the manufacturer. Six more BlackFlys are in the hands of private owners who paid a sizable deposit to join Pivotal’s early access program. One of the aircraft has logged more than 1,000 flights.
Though operations are restricted to daytime and Class G airspace, early BlackFly owners are using the aircraft to fly in airshows, commute to work, and in general impress their neighbors.
Pivotal in early 2024 opened sales for its flagship production model, Helix, for $190,000 in the U.S. It expects to begin production in the coming weeks.
