WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has selected eight proposals as part of the new Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
The program is designed to accelerate “the safe integration of next-generation Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into the national airspace” and ensure the United States “leads the way in aviation innovation,” according to FAA officials.
“Together, these pilot projects will create one of the largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft in the world,” FAA officials said in announcing the news. “In addition to offering the American people an exciting window into the future of aviation, data from the pilot projects will be used by the FAA to develop new regulations that safely enable this futuristic technology at scale. The American public will start to see operations begin under this program by summer 2026.”
The eight selected projects span 26 states and involve leading aircraft manufacturers, operators, and state partners. They include a range of operational concepts, including:
- Urban air taxi services
- Regional passenger transportation (including short Takeoff and Landing aircraft)
- Cargo and logistics networks
- Emergency medical response operations
- Autonomous flight technologies
- Offshore and energy-sector transportation
“These partnerships will help us better understand how to safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System,” said FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe Advanced Air Mobility operations. We appreciate the strong interest reflected in the many proposals we received.”
The following projects were selected to participate in the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program:
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Multiple industry partners will collaborate on 12 different operational concepts across New England, including eVTOL passenger operations at the Manhattan heliport. Partners: Archer, BETA, Electra, Joby.
- Texas Department of Transportation: Industry partners will support regional flights connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston, with air taxi networks expanding from each city to extend regional reach. Partners: Archer, BETA, Joby, Wisk.
- Utah Department of Transportation: Four states spanning the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Plains of Oklahoma will test a wide range of next-generation aircraft and operational concepts. Partners: Ampaire, BETA, Joby, Other.
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation: The NASAO AAM Multistate Collaborative will work across 13 states to revitalize regional flights across the country, including routes similar to those supported through the Essential Air Service program. Partners: BETA, Electra, Other.
- Louisiana: Operations will test cargo and personnel transportation capabilities to enable flights over water and to energy industry locations in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Partners: BETA, Elroy Air, Other.
- Florida Department of Transportation: A statewide effort featuring multiple industry partners will include three phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response. Partners: Archer, BETA, Electra, Joby, Other.
- North Carolina Department of Transportation: Working with industry partners, the state will establish piloted medical and regional operations across the state while also developing an autonomous flight operation extending into Virginia. Partners: BETA, Joby, Other.
- City of Albuquerque: A project designed to achieve early advances in autonomous operations through an existing partnership with an advanced autonomy developer already operating in the region and coordinating with the FAA. Partner: Reliable Robotics.
The program received more than 30 proposals from across the country. Submissions were evaluated by a technical review team from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FAA.
Proposals were assessed based on their ability to accelerate the integration of Advanced Air Mobility aircraft, the breadth of operational concepts proposed, potential regulatory and policy insights, experience in aircraft development or manufacturing, and the strength of industry, academic, and government partnerships, according to FAA officials.
Following this review process, the eight projects were selected to advance the next phase of the program.
For more information: FAA.gov
I can’t find any info on the airports involved. I sure hope that they are all towered airports and that the routes used are published along with the low altitudes flown ?
I want to remain many miles from any route !!