Lilium N.V. announced that the future Orlando International Airport (MCO) vertiport will serve as a central Florida hub for its Lilium Jet network. The company also expressed its support for Florida House Bill 981, which proposes designating MCO as the state’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) test site.
The MCO vertiport, once operational, will function as a crucial node in Lilium’s Florida network, facilitating seamless connections for Lilium Jet operators and passengers throughout the central region. This decision leverages the airport’s central location and robust infrastructure, positioning it as an ideal launchpad for AAM services catering to the nearly 80 million annual visitors to Florida.
Lilium has consistently demonstrated its commitment to advancing AAM development in Florida. In 2020, the company partnered with the City of Orlando and Lake Nona to establish the nation’s first urban and regional AAM network. Moreover, by endorsing Florida House Bill 981, Lilium actively supports establishing MCO as the state’s official AAM test site. This designation, alongside the streamlined vertiport permitting process outlined in the bill, would significantly streamline AAM development and enable Florida to emerge as a national leader in this transformative transportation technology.
Lilium has actively engaged with bill sponsors, State Representative Doug Bankson (District 39) and State Representative Fiona McFarland (District 73), who chairs the Florida House Transportation & Modals Subcommittee. This collaboration ensures that Florida’s policy framework accommodates the specific needs of AAM operators like Lilium and its commercial partners, paving the way for a smooth transition to fully-fledged commercial operations.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
