Lobbyist says air taxis, vertiports could appear in Utah within decade

Adam Gardner, a lobbyist and founder of the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association, told a local forum that electric air taxis and related infrastructure are advancing rapidly in Utah and could begin regular operations in the state within the next several years.

Gardner said the technology is not futuristic hype but a near-term change in mobility: “This is not the Jetsons. It's real,” he said, quoting Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation, that “these demonstrations are more than just a technology showcase. They represent a fundamental shift in how we think about mobility.”

Gardner described two classes of aircraft. Current conventional takeoff-and-landing electric aircraft, he said, already operate for cargo and medical deliveries, and the Federal Aviation Administration has certified at least one type of aircraft for such uses. He said Beta…