Pivotal

Pivotal designs, develops and manufactures light electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for personal aviation. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, where it also carries out manufacturing, the company is vertically integrated across design, development and production. Its work spans electric propulsion, carbon fibre composites, tilt-aircraft architecture, advanced autonomy systems and flight-control engineering.

The company's aircraft include BlackFly, described as the first light eVTOL to enter the consumer market, and Helix, a commercially available light eVTOL that starts at $190,000. Helix features triple redundant flight controls, radar-guided autoland, a ballistic parachute system and a tilt-aircraft architecture; it requires no runway and can be assembled in 30 minutes. The aircraft operates under FAA Part 103 ultralight rules, which require no pilot certification but do involve comprehensive training.

Pivotal reports more than 9,000 completed flights across over 100 flight locations, and holds AS9100D quality certification. It cites more than a decade of continuous development in light eVTOL technology. Its aircraft are directed at consumer and personal aviation as well as public safety and defence applications.