Hyde County Emergency Medical Services in North Carolina deployed this unique Pivotal BlackFly aircraft to respond to real 911 calls. [Credit: Pivotal]
Key Takeaways:
Hyde County EMS successfully piloted Pivotal's BlackFly eVTOL aircraft, allowing a paramedic to reach emergency scenes significantly faster than an ambulance and initiate advanced life support.
This pioneering program, the first in the nation to deploy eVTOLs for real-world EMS, required extensive paramedic training, development of new operational protocols, and careful negotiation with regulatory bodies like the FAA.
The initiative demonstrates the potential of eVTOL aircraft to drastically improve emergency response times in challenging areas and provides a foundation for future applications, including specialized missions like blood delivery.
Quinn Reece, a paramedic with Hyde County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in North Carolina, is not your average first responder.
Recently, Reece responded to a 911 call about 20 minutes faster than an ambulance. The seemingly impossible feat was enabled by a unique aircraft that lifts off vertically like a helicopter but tilts forward to fly on fixed wings.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
