GoAERO Prize

The GoAERO Prize is a global, multi-year innovation competition designed to catalyze the development of a new class of emergency response aircraft. Organized with support from major aerospace and technology partners including NASA and RTX, the competition aims to inspire engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to design and build a compact, autonomy-enabled Emergency Response Flyer. This aircraft is intended to transform how first responders access difficult environments, particularly in situations where traditional methods such as helicopters or ground vehicles are inefficient, inaccessible, or too slow. The overarching mission of the competition is to enable faster, safer, and more effective rescue operations, ultimately saving lives in emergencies ranging from medical crises to natural disasters. The competition is structured as a three-stage program spanning approximately three years, beginning in February 2024 and culminating in a final Fly-Off event in February 2027 at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Participants may enter at any stage and are not required to compete in earlier rounds to qualify for later ones. Stage 1 focuses on conceptual design and project planning through a digital submission. Stage 2 requires proof-of-concept validation, including demonstrated flight capability of a scaled prototype. The final Fly-Off involves full-scale operational testing across multiple missions that simulate real-world emergency scenarios, such as evacuating victims, delivering supplies, or navigating hazardous terrain. The total prize pool exceeds two million dollars and is distributed across stages and mission categories. Early-stage winners may receive smaller awards for technical proposals and prototype validation, while the final stage includes a one million dollar grand prize for overall performance, along with additional mission-specific and innovation awards. Notably, prize winners in later stages must enter into an equity agreement with GoAERO, granting the organization a limited ownership stake proportional to the prize value. This arrangement is designed to support long-term innovation while aligning incentives between participants and organizers. Eligibility for the competition is broad and inclusive, allowing participation from individuals in Stage 1 and requiring formal business entities for later stages. Participants must be at least 18 years old and comply with all competition rules, including legal agreements, safety requirements, and documentation standards. Teams are responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, including obtaining necessary permits and adhering to aviation and safety laws. Certain geographic and legal restrictions apply, particularly related to U.S. sanctions and export control regulations, which may limit participation from specific countries or individuals. The application process involves completing registration forms, signing legal agreements, and submitting required materials through designated portals. Stage 1 submissions include technical descriptions and project plans, while later stages require additional documentation such as proof of insurance, safety protocols, and flight demonstration evidence. Evaluation criteria vary by stage but generally emphasize technical feasibility, project execution capability, innovation, and clarity of presentation. In later stages, demonstrated performance and operational safety become critical factors in judging. The competition timeline includes defined deadlines for submissions, registration, and qualification milestones. The final Fly-Off qualifying period runs from June 2026 through December 2026, during which teams must demonstrate full operational capability of their aircraft. Registration for the final event closes in November 2026, with final qualification deadlines in December 2026. The culminating Fly-Off event in February 2027 consists of multiple missions testing productivity, maneuverability, and resilience under adverse conditions. While the competition is not explicitly recurring, it represents a structured, time-bound opportunity to advance aerospace innovation with significant real-world impact.

Focus on demonstrating real-world feasibility and clear technical validation; ensure safety procedures are well documented; provide strong evidence of flight capability and performance