US Transportation Secretary Sean P Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced eight proposals were selected as part of the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
According to a DoT announcement, 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 and offshore and energy-sector transportation.
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 the high seas into the Gulf of America 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, supported by significant public and private investment. Partners: Archer, BETA, Electra, Joby, Other
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Working with industry partners to 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 focused 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.
BETA aircraft feature in seven of the eight eIPP programmes (image DOT)
“The Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (e-IPP) received more than 30 proposals from across the country,” said the DOT. “Submissions were evaluated by a technical review team from DOT and 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. Following this review process, the eight projects listed above were selected to advance the next phase of the program.”
“This is the clearest sign yet from the White House, the FAA and the DOT that bringing air taxis to market in the United States is a real priority,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “We appreciate Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford’s leadership and are excited to bring Midnight to the skies of some of America’s largest cities.”
“Having our partners at TxDOT selected under the eIPP program is the green light we’ve been working toward,” said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. “The insights we gather in Texas are not just limited to our aircraft or the state; we are validating the entire digital and physical ecosystem. This program allows us to perform real-world operations that can be translated into FAA policy and regulations, ensuring that when Wisk launches our full commercial service, the regulatory environment is as ready as our aircraft.”
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