Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on the Electric Logistics and Integrated Flight Testing, or eLIFT-NC, initiative that will use next-generation electric aircraft to break down barriers to care in rural North Carolina communities.
The eLIFT-NC initiative aims to explore how electric aviation can better connect hospitals, airports and rural communities to improve access to medical supplies, equipment and disaster recovery resources while maintaining strong safety and infrastructure standards. The phased effort will begin with training and initial operations before expanding to additional routes and potential hospital-to-hospital missions. The program will also help inform the infrastructure and systems needed for long-term implementation.
ECU Health joined North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and representatives from the FAA, NCDOT, BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation, Metro Aviation and other state healthcare organizations for a kick-off event Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Raleigh Executive Jetport. The event brought together pilot officials and stakeholders for aircraft simulations and exploration of the future of electronic aircraft in healthcare delivery.
In March, the NCDOT Division of Aviation announced it had been selected to participate in the FAA’s Advance Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) to explore the potential of next-generation aircraft. The program supports real-world testing of electric aircraft while helping shape future regulations and safety standards.
“North Carolina is ready to turn next-generation aircraft into real-world solutions for our communities,” said Julie White, deputy secretary for multimodal transportation at NCDOT. “Through the eIPP, we will connect rural areas, expand mobility options and demonstrate how electric aviation can benefit residents across the state.”
ECU Health is among the healthcare providers, aviation partners and industry leaders to collaborate with the state. Serving 1.4 million patients across 29, primarily rural, counties in eastern North Carolina positions the health system to offer perspective on how emerging transportation technology can impact the region and state.
ECU Health’s role as a member of the Healthcare Advisory Committee for the initiative will help ensure emerging aviation technology is informed by the realities of rural health care delivery, including geography, access, infrastructure and the needs of patients and communities across eastern North Carolina. ECU Health continues to partner with eLIFT-NC officials on test flights across the region.
“As a national leader in rural healthcare, ECU Health is helping build the model for how health systems, government agencies and innovative partners can work together to improve access and outcomes in rural communities,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Public partnerships like eLIFT-NC are essential to translating next-generation ideas into real-world solutions that bring care closer to home, strengthen connectivity and help pave the way to a healthier future for eastern North Carolina and rural communities across the country.”