DOT, FAA pick eight eVTOL pilot projects ahead of summer 2026 flights

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have selected eight pilot projects across 26 states to test electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other advanced air mobility concepts later in 2026, marking the next step in a federal effort to bring the new aircraft types rapidly into the national airspace system. 

The DOT announced the selections on March 9, 2026, as part of the Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, known as eIPP. The agency said the program will help generate operational data that the FAA can use to develop future regulations for advanced air mobility aircraft. The DOT said the public could begin seeing flights under the program by summer 2026. 

The selected projects cover a wide range of proposed uses, including urban air taxi service, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics operations, emergency medical response, autonomous flight technologies, and transportation supporting offshore energy activity. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey project will bring together Archer, Beta, Electra, and Joby on 12 operational concepts across New England, including eVTOL passenger operations at the Manhattan Heliport. 

In Texas, the state transportation department will work with Archer, Beta, Joby, and Wisk on regional flights connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston, with air taxi networks expanding from those cities. 

Utah’s project will span four states across the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Oklahoma, testing multiple aircraft types and operating concepts with Ampaire, Beta, Joby, and other partners. 

Pennsylvania’s project, led through the NASAO AAM Multistate Collaborative, will involve 13 states and focus on revitalizing regional flights, including service concepts similar to routes supported under the Essential Air Service program. Beta and Electra are among the partners. 

Louisiana’s selected project will test cargo and personnel transportation for flights over the Gulf of America and to energy industry locations in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Partners include Beta and Elroy Air. 

Florida will run a statewide program in three phases focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response. Archer, Beta, Electra and Joby are among the participating companies. 

North Carolina’s project will focus on piloted medical and regional operations within the state and an autonomous flight operation extending into Virginia, with Beta and Joby among the partners. 

The City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, project will focus on autonomous operations through an existing partnership with Reliable Robotics. 

The DOT said the program received more than 30 proposals from eVTOL makers, localities, and states. A DOT and FAA technical review team evaluated submissions based on their ability to accelerate advanced air mobility integration, the breadth of proposed operations, potential regulatory value, experience in aircraft development or manufacturing, and the strength of industry, academic, and government partnerships. The post DOT, FAA pick eight eVTOL pilot projects ahead of summer 2026 flights appeared first on AeroTime.

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