The Florida Polytechnic University Police Department is the first law enforcement agency in the USA to integrate a manned electric aircraft into its operational service. The vertical take-off aircraft is "in the final phase of the approval process," according to the university.

The eVTOL named “Astro” from US manufacturer Jetson is being used as a patrol aircraft. According to Florida Polytechnic University, the device is still under review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for this specific use case and the approval process is reportedly in its final stages.

In the future, the eVTOL is expected to enhance the department’s ability to monitor the campus and surrounding areas, access locations difficult to reach with conventional vehicles, assist in clean-up efforts after storms, and deliver emergency supplies quickly when needed. The university police also plan to collaborate with law enforcement agencies across the region to use Astro in supporting emergency responses and other public safety measures.

The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in question is the single-seat Jetson ONE model. According to the datasheet, the device measures 2.7 x 1.6 x 1.22 metres, with wings that can fold to even more compact dimensions. Manufacturer Jetson specifies the total weight as 115 kg, including lithium-ion batteries. These support a flight time of approximately 20 minutes. The maximum speed is 102 km/h. The company has not provided further details about the propulsion system or the batteries.

“Advanced air mobility is a technology on the rise, and we can either choose to be proactive or reactive as it develops,” said Aaron Murray, the University’s police chief.

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