Electra, working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Department of Transportation, recently conducted hybrid-electric demonstration flights to test routes connecting small local airports to major airline hubs.
The test flights, which were part of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), took place the week of Aug. 18, 2026, between Manassas, Virginia, and Philadelphia, stopping at:
- Washington Manassas Airport in Virginia
- Millville Executive Airport in New Jersey
- Atlantic City Bader Field in New Jersey
- Northeast Philadelphia Airport in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia International Airport
The flights are part of a series of demonstrations as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) works to integrate Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft into the National Airspace System.
“With every new test flight, the department is gathering more of the data we need to enable the safe rollout of these next-generation aircraft,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“This demonstration required strategic planning and support from both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation,” added FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “The information collected from this demonstration will help us build a system that connects Americans in rural communities and larger metropolitan areas, creating more opportunities for jobs and essential services.”
“PennDOT’s mission is to help connect people to where they’re going, no matter how they choose to travel,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “The innovative technology being demonstrated this week has the potential to make air travel more convenient and accessible to our communities.”
“New Jersey has always been a leader in aviation innovation and NJDOT was proud to host the first Advanced Air Mobility demonstration in the state at Bader Field in Atlantic City,” said NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain. “This is a glimpse of the future. This enables Direct Aviation: Connecting people more directly to where they want to go, rather than requiring a long drive to a major airport.”
“This demonstration is a powerful proof point that the next era of aviation is here,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. “Electra’s Ultra Short aircraft can create direct connections between communities, regional airports, and major hubs, unlocking a faster, more accessible way to travel. With the FAA, PennDOT, and NJDOT, we are laying the foundation for Direct Aviation and extending America’s leadership into a new generation of flight.”
The eIPP creates one of the nation’s largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft, according to DOT officials.
In March 2026, the DOT selected eight projects across 26 states to participate in the eIPP. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is one of the eight participants.
The FAA will use what it learns from these demonstrations to identify gaps, improve procedures, and support the safe integration of advanced air mobility into the National Airspace System. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and other eIPP participants are planning additional test flights throughout the rest of the year, FAA officials added.
For more information: FAA.gov
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