Florida university adds electric flying aircraft to police fleet
Police vehicles and helicopters are familiar sights, but Florida Polytechnic University’s police department is trying something different: a small, single-seat electric aircraft nicknamed Astro. Built by Jetson, the company behind the Jetson ONE, the aircraft looks a bit like an oversized drone.
The university says it is the first U.S. law enforcement agency to add a piloted electric aircraft of this kind to its fleet. Jetson describes the move as a world first. Astro still needs federal approval, though, before it can be used for regular police patrols.
Astro uses electric vertical takeoff and landing technology, or eVTOL, so it can rise straight into the air without a runway. Its frame folds for transport and storage, and the pilot sits in an open cockpit surrounded by a lightweight structure. Eight electric motors power its propellers, while a four-axis joystick controls the aircraft.
The university received the Jetson ONE in summer 2026. Police staff, including Chief Aaron Murray, have since completed flight training, Jetson says. The aircraft’s registration, N911FP, references emergency services and the university. It is a standard Jetson ONE fitted with police lights, a handheld radio and mounts for action cameras. Jetson says a pilot-operated searchlight could be added later.
Jetson lists Astro’s top speed at 63 mph and estimates about 20 minutes of flying time per charge. That could make it useful for quick trips across a large campus, though it is not built for long patrols. Charging takes around 90 minutes with a 240-volt connection or about three hours from a standard household outlet. Batteries can be swapped between flights, provided charged replacements are available.
The aircraft’s maximum weight is 210 pounds, including the pilot, equipment and supplies. Jetson says that is a firm limit, which could leave little room for extra gear. The company also lists several safety features, including the ability to keep flying if one motor fails, an automatic landing system and a ballistic parachute. The listed price is $148,000 before taxes and other fees.
Florida Polytechnic hopes Astro could help officers reach or assess places that are difficult to access by road. After a major storm, for example, flooding or debris may block routes for emergency crews. If weather and flying conditions permit, a compact aircraft that can take off vertically might provide a view of damaged areas.
Murray says the department is considering uses such as campus monitoring, reaching hard-to-access locations and delivering emergency supplies. The university also plans to work with regional law enforcement agencies on possible emergency-response missions.
Astro can carry only its pilot, so it cannot bring an injured person back from a rescue or transport another passenger. The amount of emergency equipment it can take along will also depend on the pilot’s weight and the gear already onboard.
Before the aircraft can be used for police work, it needs additional federal authorization. Jetson developed the ONE as a recreational aircraft under the FAA’s Part 103 ultralight rules. Those rules allow qualifying aircraft to fly without traditional aircraft or pilot certification, but limit their use to recreational or sporting activities. Police patrols and aerial surveying are not permitted under Part 103.
Jetson says the university needs authorization under FAA Part 91 for public-safety missions. When Florida Polytechnic announced Astro in mid-October, it said the approval process was nearing its final stages and officials expected a decision in November or December. The university has not announced when regular patrol operations might begin.
The aircraft will also be used for research and teaching. Florida Polytechnic launched an aerospace engineering degree program in fall 2026, and students and faculty plan to study Astro’s flight data and use it in research and senior projects. The university is also reportedly exploring virtual training simulations for officers.
Florida is developing other programs around advanced air mobility, too. The SunTrax transportation testing facility in Auburndale has a track for testing emerging aircraft technology. Testing as part of a federal advanced air mobility pilot program is expected to start by the end of 2026. That work is separate from Astro’s pending approval for police use.
A small electric aircraft could offer police an alternative for certain tasks that might otherwise require a helicopter. But Astro has clear limits: short flight time, weight restrictions, weather concerns and airspace rules could all shape how useful it is. A drone might also be able to perform some surveillance tasks without putting an officer in the air, so departments will need to weigh the benefits against the cost.
Jetson says its production for 2026 and 2027 is sold out and that it is taking orders for 2028 at a listed price of $148,000. The company also expects Astro to be displayed at the UP.Summit public event at Kennedy Space Center on November 7 and 8.
For now, Astro is an early test of how small electric aircraft might fit into public-safety work. It could help officers survey blocked roads after a storm or support searches, but its value in real police operations remains to be established. Privacy will matter, too. Communities may want clear rules about when aircraft can fly over homes and what information they can record.
