--- title: "Paramedics Now Rolling Up to Medical Emergencies in Flying Hovercraft" description: "A paramedic in northern California has logged two successful emergency trips in an eVOTL, likely a first for the US." date: "2026-08-22" modified: "2026-08-22" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins" url: "https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/paramedics-emt-evotl-hovercraft-california-emergency" categories: - "Advanced Transport" --- # Paramedics Now Rolling Up to Medical Emergencies in Flying Hovercraft ![A screenshot of an EMS eVTOL developed by Pivotal.]() *Pivotal* Flying cars might still be a long way off, but if you find yourself in trouble in northern California, something similar just might come to your rescue. A flight paramedic working in the woodsy reaches of Northern California has now logged at least two trips to emergencies in an eVTOL, a kind of small-rotor electric aircraft that uses battery power to hover, take off, and land, like a cross between a helicopter and a rotor-driven drone. Unlike a bulkier helicopter, however, eVTOLs — short for electric vertical takeoff and landing — are stuffed with numerous small motors which power the craft's rotors. In theory, that compact form factor makes them an effective choice for areas or situations where take-off and landing space is tight. In practice, eVOTLs are still in their infancy, meaning any deployment is highly experimental. As far as their use for emergency response goes, this appears to be a first in the US. According to the [publication *AeroTime*](), the flight medic, Quinn Reece, was able to arrive at one rural scene some 20 minutes before the ambulance pulled in. The craft, a [BlackFly model]() developed by the company Pivotal, only has room for one pilot, so helicopters will probably still be the go-to for critical patient transportation for the foreseeable future. Still, the utility of swiftly dispatching a trained medical responder to the scene of an emergency is hard to overlook. "Every decision we make is about getting advanced care to our citizens faster," Brook Cox, chief of the Hyde County EMS told *AeroTime*. "These missions proved that we can overcome distance, reach patients sooner, and redefine emergency response in rural communities." **More on aircraft:** *[Wild Video Shows Quadcopter Drone Plucking Man From Raging Floodwaters, Whisking Him to Safety]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()