Calhoun County Emergency Management Service (EMS) in Texas is partnering with Jump Aero, a California-based aviation manufacturer, to test the deployment of flight-based first responders.
The trial will utilize Jump Aero’s JA1 Pulse electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to evaluate its effectiveness in emergency response, particularly in rural and remote areas.
This collaboration aims to demonstrate how eVTOL technology can address the unique geographic challenges of Calhoun County, while also exploring future operational applications for similar communities across the U.S.
The JA1 Pulse™ is a cutting-edge eVTOL aircraft designed to transport one trained professional and emergency equipment to hard-to-reach locations. It is particularly suited for emergency response operations in areas with limited road access and challenging terrain, making it ideal for rural and remote environments.
The deployment will allow the company and the county to test operations of the JA1 Pulse electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the field and will drive informed decisions about future operations of Jump Aero technology in rural communities throughout the United States.
The two parties have agreed to work together to identify potential funding opportunities through grants and federal programs to support the trial deployment.
Calhoun County Emergency Management Service
Calhoun County is particularly well-suited to benefit from incorporating the JA-1 Pulse in its emergency response service as the county spans barrier islands with poor road access, is in a geographic area susceptible to disaster incidents, and includes many remote and rural communities.
The county also regularly welcomes tourists, hunters and nature enthusiasts to its numerous remote and hard to access attractions. In many areas within the county, ambulance arrivals can be well beyond what is considered necessary to support positive outcomes.
By enabling skilled first responders to fly directly to the scene of the emergency, Jump Aero’s Pulse can help save lives of Calhoun County residents and visitors.
“Calhoun County has been looking for a solution to provide timely response within our geographical challenges and this aircraft has the promise to make real difference to our residents.” commented Dr. J. Dustin Jenkins, DMin, MBA, MTh, LP, Calhoun County Director of EMS.
“We are excited to find such a great partner for our demo operations. The data we gather from initial deployment will drive our long-term operations and will provide crucial lessons learned to bring us that much closer to saving lives of rural Americans.” said Jump Aero President and CEO Carl Dietrich.
