The City of St. Petersburg is moving quickly to stake its claim in a rapidly growing aerospace industry centered on electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, also known as eVTOLs.

Former City Council member and career pilot Ed Montanari, now chair of the city’s first Advanced Air Mobility Task Force, returned to City Hall Aug. 7 with “good news.” The 12-member group has been meeting regularly since April, studying how St. Petersburg can benefit from the industry, which experts project will grow into a $137 billion market by 2035.

Montanari likened the effort to the city’s aviation legacy as the site of the world’s first commercial flight in 1914. Federal regulators are expected to certify eVTOLs within two years, and the Florida Department of Transportation has already launched a statewide advisory committee.

“This is an industry that’s just getting started, and it’s going to change our world,” Montanari said. “It’s being taken very seriously by the FAA, the federal government, the FDOT—and now here in St. Petersburg.”

The task force will deliver its final recommendations in January 2026. Its review includes zoning and land use, regulations, integration with local infrastructure, funding opportunities, and workforce needs. Montanari noted the potential for jobs tied to both operations and component manufacturing, even if the region cannot host a full-scale production facility.

Federal interest is also accelerating. The FAA expects to select five pilot projects by December. Tampa International Airport has already approached the task force about partnering to pursue funding.

Locally, discussions have centered on Albert Whitted Airport as the city’s first potential vertiport. Safety and resiliency—particularly in relation to charging and storing batteries during storm events—remain key concerns. “Just think about what happened to us here in St. Petersburg last year with two hurricanes,” Montanari said.

Council members also raised workforce questions. Economic development officials said that multiple city departments are closely monitoring developments to prepare for potential training opportunities and partnerships.

The task force has already heard presentations from Duke Energy on battery superchargers and from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue on electrical safety. Future meetings will cover leading eVTOL manufacturers, all of which have aligned with major airlines.

Montanari will deliver another progress update in November. Council member Lisset Hanewicz praised the early momentum: “The fact that we’re getting in early ensures we’re going to be ready, because it is coming, no matter what.”

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