Calhoun County, Texas, to host eVTOL trials

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Jump Aero has partnered with the Calhoun County Emergency Management Service in the US state of Texas.

The partners will collaborate on a trial deployment of Jump Aero’s JA1 Pulse eVTOL for first responder missions in the county.

The partners will also aim to identify “potential funding opportunities through grants and federal programs to support the trial development”.

Jump Aero said that the test operations will inform decisions about the future use of its technology in rural communities throughout the USA.

An ideal test location

The company added that Calhoun County is particularly well suited to benefit from the JA1 Pulse in its emergency response service, due to its many islands and remote, rural communities, and its susceptibility to natural disasters.

The county is also a popular destination for tourists, hunters, and nature enthusiasts – most of whom are attracted to the county’s remote and hard-to-reach areas.

“Calhoun County has been looking for a solution to provide timely response within our geographical challenges and this aircraft has the promise to make real difference to our residents,” said Dr J Dustin Jenkins, Calhoun County’s Director of Emergency Medical Services.

Carl Dietrich, President and CEO of Jump Aero, added: “We are excited to find such a great partner for our demo operations. The data we gather from initial deployment will drive our long-term operations and will provide crucial lessons learned to bring us that much closer to saving lives of rural Americans.”

Aviation firm Avincis recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus to support the development of eVTOLs.