Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

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Hanneke Weitering

Pivotal is partnering with a North Carolina healthcare agency to test whether ultralight eVTOL aircraft such as its single-seat <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2024-01-16/pivotal-launches-sales-helix-personal-evtol-aircraft-private-flyers">Helix</a> model could accelerate response times for emergency medical services in rural areas.&nbsp;
The California-based aircraft developer says it has launched a proof-of-concept project with Hyde County Emergency Services (HCES) and Code Blue Resources, a company that provides emergency medical training and emergency response consulting services, to evaluate the use of single-seat eVTOL aircraft as a rapid-response platform for paramedics.&nbsp;
“When every second matters, eVTOLs allow paramedics to rise above traffic, terrain, and traditional barriers,” said Code Blue Resources president Carla Baker.
Under the initiative, flight-trained HCES paramedics will pilot the vehicles to emergency scenes to administer care before ground ambulances arrive. The aircraft will not transport patients.&nbsp;
Pivotal will provide the aircraft, pilot training, and operational support, while Code Blue Resources will oversee the medical component, including developing protocols and procedures for EMS operations.&nbsp;
“Pivotal’s eVTOL technology represents a possible leap forward for our public safety operations,” said HCES director Chief Brook Cox. “Its ability to deploy rapidly, without runways or specialized infrastructure, opens entirely new possibilities for situational awareness, operational reach, and scalable response… For EMS in rural regions like the Outer Coastal Plain, this is not just a tool—it’s a cost-efficient platform that fundamentally expands how we approach emergency management.”
According to Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin, the project aims to demonstrate a scalable “airmobile emergency services” model that integrates EMS, law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and emergency management missions. “For the first time, eVTOL technology is being deployed to support active public safety operations,” he said.
Pivotal’s ultralight eVTOL aircraft operate under FAA Part 103 rules and do not require a conventional pilot license, though operators must complete Pivotal’s internal training program. The pilot project will evaluate the operational requirements for deploying the vehicles under a Public Aircraft Operation designation.
Pivotal (formerly known as Opener) developed the single-seat Helix personal eVTOL aircraft, derived from its earlier BlackFly design, primarily for recreational and private use. The company has delivered several of the earlier aircraft to U.S. customers and has also drawn <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2024-02-27/us-air-force-evaluating-pivotals-blackfly-ultralight-evtol-aircraft">interest from the U.S. Air Force</a> for potential defense applications.

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Pivotal Trials Ultralight eVTOL for U.S. Emergency Medical Flights

Hyde County initiative evaluates rapid-response concept

Pivotal is partnering with a North Carolina emergency services agency to test whether ultralight eVTOL aircraft could accelerate emergency response times.

Pivotal Trials Ultralight eVTOL for Emergency Medical Flights

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