Electric aviation has spent years living in renderings, test reports, and forecasts. Two events in October offered something more concrete: aircraft flying in front of the regulators, operators, and communities that will eventually host them.
Lisa Wright, founder and CEO of Landings, attended both: an event at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence in Ohio, and a demonstration flight by Electra at a downtown Manhattan helipad. What stood out to her was not a single aircraft but how quickly these machines can be put into action.
Regulators, Airports and Cities in One Room
The Ohio event brought together an unusually broad mix of participants. Electra’s CEO spoke, the FAA was present, and regional airports from Ohio and Kentucky attended alongside city representatives, including from Cleveland.
That combination reflects how many groups now have a direct stake in electric aviation. Airports are thinking about charging and operations, cities about access and services, and regulators about how to integrate new aircraft safely.
From Charger to Airborne
The event’s demonstrations featured Pivotal’s BlackFly, a single-seat electric aircraft flown by an exhibition pilot ahead of an electric aircraft race held that weekend. The same aircraft type is being used in North Carolina’s emergency response program, part of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
Wright’s main takeaway was accessibility. “It was easy to charge,” she said. She watched the aircraft charge, and then saw how quickly a pilot could get in and take off. That speed is exactly why the aircraft suits emergency services.
Spectators stood close by. “We were only 20 feet away and there was no wind kicking up,” Wright said. “There was no issue with being that close to the aircraft.”
Operating in a Dense City
A week later, Electra demonstrated a different kind of readiness. Its hybrid-electric aircraft flew in from Linden Airport in New Jersey and landed at a downtown Manhattan helipad, needing roughly 150 feet to take off and land, with the Brooklyn Bridge behind it.
Wright described the aircraft as remarkably quiet. That quality could matter a great deal as operators look for ways to fly in and around crowded cities without adding to existing noise concerns.
What the Demonstrations Signal
The two events pointed in the same direction from different angles. The BlackFly showed aircraft already serving a use case with immediate demand, getting responders where they are needed quickly. Electra showed an aircraft that can operate without a conventional runway, in one of the most crowded airspaces in the country.
“The idea that we’re starting to see these aircraft in the air” is what Wright finds most significant. Each public flight builds familiarity with these aircraft among regulators, airports, and communities.
The demonstrations also sharpen the infrastructure question. Aircraft that charge quickly and launch in minutes still need somewhere to land and recharge, and the planning, approvals, and energy systems behind those sites take far longer to put in place than a flight demonstration does.
About Landings: Landings is building vertiport landing and charging infrastructure for electric aircraft, with a planned network of 2,000+ rural locations across North America. Founded by architect and energy management expert Lisa Wright, the company takes an infrastructure-first, asset-light approach through revenue-sharing partnerships with commercial property owners.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
