Florida Poly Police Deploys Jetson ONE eVTOL: A US First
Florida Polytechnic University says its campus police department is the first law enforcement agency in the United States to add a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to its patrol fleet.
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 20, 2026 
Florida Polytechnic University's campus police department has become what the university says is the first law enforcement agency in the United States to operate a Jetson ONE piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, unveiling the vehicle at its Lakeland, Florida campus on 20 October 2026.
The announcement puts Florida Poly at the leading edge of advanced air mobility adoption in public safety, arriving at a moment when the FAA has already selected Florida as a partner in a broader pilot programme for testing air taxi vehicles nearby.
What the Jetson ONE Is
The Jetson ONE is a single-seat, open-cockpit eVTOL built from aluminium and operated via joystick. According to the Palm Beach Post, eight small rotors mounted on four arms provide lift and thrust, powered by a set of electric motors totalling around 102 horsepower. The vehicle weighs 154 pounds without its battery and has a carrying capacity of 210 pounds.
The aircraft's top speed is 63 mph, and it can fly for approximately 20 minutes on a single charge, though high-speed operation reduces that endurance. Critically for safety, the Jetson ONE can continue to fly after losing one motor, and it carries a built-in automatic parachute system.
You can explore more aircraft in this category using the Aircraft Search tool on The Aviation Hub.
How Florida Poly Acquired It
Florida Poly paid just under $150,000 for the aircraft, purchasing it directly from Jetson, a California-based manufacturer. The Palm Beach Post reports that Jetson CEO Stéphan D'haene expedited the university's order despite a three-year waiting list, citing Florida Poly's STEM focus and the department's public safety mission.
The vehicle has been decorated in the university's purple-and-white colours, with its logo, the word "Police" and lighting along its rollbars. The department has nicknamed it Astro, a nod to the pet dog in the 1960s cartoon "The Jetsons," which also inspired the company's name.
What Florida Poly Will Use It For
Police Chief Aaron Murray, who travelled to California for the training required to operate the craft, outlined several roles for the vehicle. He told the Palm Beach Post that Astro will support searches for missing persons on campus, responses to traffic incidents and assistance to other agencies during emergencies.
Murray said the vehicle fills a gap between conventional drones and ground vehicles. Although Florida Poly's campus covers 174 acres, a relatively compact footprint for a state university, a significant portion is wooded and difficult to reach quickly by road, including an area south of University Boulevard.
"Just like with any other technology, if you don't embrace it, you'll get left behind," Murray said. "With the advancement of advanced air mobility, especially close to us here at Florida Polytechnic, it was a no-brainer for us to absorb this technology and incorporate it into every aspect of Florida Poly."
Regulatory Status and Operating Limits
The Jetson ONE is classified as an ultralight craft. Florida Poly expects to receive final FAA approval for its operational use by early December, according to the Palm Beach Post.
In the meantime, the department will operate the vehicle under the same restrictions that apply to unmanned drones, capping its altitude at around 400 feet. The department will not fly Astro in rain, which could damage the battery pack, and will avoid operations in heavy winds. Officers flying the vehicle will carry medical packs, as all hold first-responder training.
Murray said he intends for two additional members of his 14-person department to complete the same California training he undertook. The vehicle is compact enough to fit in the back of a truck, making deployment straightforward.
The Academic Angle
Beyond policing, Florida Poly sees the Jetson ONE as a teaching asset. Professor Matt Bohm, director of capstone projects and industry engagement in mechanical and industrial engineering, described it as "probably one of the best applied learning labs we could possibly ask for."
Six computer science students are already working with the aircraft as part of their capstone projects. The Palm Beach Post reports that their work includes developing a digital twin or virtual reality training scenario tailored to the campus, with longer-term goals around sensor integration and engineering modifications in collaboration with Jetson.
The vehicle's arrival came less than a week after Florida Poly opened its $5.4 million, 10,500-square-foot University Safety and Operations Centre, which brings together campus police, facilities services and emergency management under one roof.
Florida's Broader AAM Ambitions
The acquisition fits into a wider push in Florida to become a hub for advanced air mobility. In August, Governor Ron DeSantis held an event at the SunTrax facility in Auburndale, a few miles from the Florida Poly campus, to announce that the FAA had selected Florida as a partner in a pilot programme for testing eVTOL and air taxi vehicles at that site, according to the Palm Beach Post.
That programme and Florida Poly's adoption of the Jetson ONE point to a state that is positioning itself as a testing ground for the next generation of aviation, with public safety agencies among the earliest adopters.
The Bottom Line
Florida Poly's deployment of the Jetson ONE is a genuine first for US law enforcement, and the constraints are real: a 20-minute flight time, no rain operations and a single trained pilot for now. Whether the model spreads to other campus or municipal police departments will depend on how this initial operation performs and how quickly FAA approval processes develop for ultralight eVTOL craft.
Manufacturer Search readers can track developments from Jetson and other eVTOL makers using the Manufacturer Search tool. The Aviation Hub will update its coverage if the FAA issues further guidance or Florida Poly releases operational results from Astro's deployment.
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