Florida Polytechnic University is preparing to bring a piloted electric aircraft into law enforcement, opening a new front in aerial policing. Its police department plans to use a Jetson ONE aircraft, nicknamed Astro, for campus patrols and emergency response.

The aircraft uses electric propulsion and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Those features could help officers reach locations that conventional patrol vehicles cannot easily access. However, the university still needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before operational deployment.

Astro could give officers another way to monitor the university’s campus and surrounding grounds. Police Chief Aaron Murray also sees potential for emergency operations after severe weather. The aircraft could help teams assess affected areas and deliver essential supplies when roads become difficult to navigate.

Florida Poly’s department also plans to work with other regional law enforcement agencies. Those partnerships could extend Astro’s role beyond campus security and support wider emergency response efforts.

Murray believes police departments should understand emerging aviation technology before it becomes commonplace. He said the university wants to explore its potential for public safety and safer airspace operations.

The aircraft’s arrival also reflects a broader shift in how law enforcement adopts new equipment. Drones have already become useful tools for police departments. Florida Poly now wants to investigate what a piloted electric aircraft can offer.

California-based Jetson accelerated the university’s order despite a three-year waiting list for the Jetson ONE. CEO Stéphan D’haene said Florida Poly’s engineering focus and public safety objectives made the project a priority.

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