The FAA Just Gave eVTOLs the Green Light

The FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced eight projects selected under the Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Operations begin summer 2026 across 26 states - forming one of the largest real-world testing environments for next-gen aircraft ever assembled. 

The program stems from the Administration’s Unleashing Drone Dominance executive order last summer. Over 30 proposals were submitted; 8 were selected based on operational breadth, regulatory insight, manufacturing experience, and partnership strength. 

The eIPP runs for three years from the date the first project becomes operational. That window is when participating companies collect the flight hours, failure data, noise profiles, and emergency procedures the FAA needs to write permanent commercial regulations. 

What’s Being Tested

Urban air taxi services, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response, autonomous flight, and offshore energy-sector transport. 

The Eight Projects

• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
  •  12 operational concepts across New England, including eVTOL passenger ops at the Manhattan heliport. 
• Texas DOT
  • Regional flights linking Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, plus city-level air taxi networks. 
• Utah DOT
  • Four-state coverage across the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Oklahoma.
• Pennsylvania DOT
  • 13-state collaborative reviving regional routes, including Essential Air Service-style connections. 
• Louisiana
  • Cargo and personnel transport over the Gulf into Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi energy locations.
• Florida DOT
  • Three-phase statewide program covering cargo, passenger transport and emergency medical response.
• North Carolina DOT
  • Piloted medical and regional operations statewide, plus autonomous flight extending into Virginia.
• City of Albuquerque
  • Autonomous operations program with an FAA-coordinated autonomy partner already active in the region. 

The Companies 

Ampaire, Archer, BETA, Electra, Elroy Air, Reliable Robotics, and Wisk. 

BETA secured a place in seven of the eight programs. Joby and Archer each appear in at least 5. 

Why It Matters For Investors 

The U.S. is in direct competition with China to lead advanced air mobility. China recently designated the “low-altitude economy” - drones and electric air taxis - a core growth engine alongside AI and quantum computing. 

The eIPP is America's response. 

The program collects operational data to shape future FAA regulations. Winners here aren’t just logging test flights - they’re drafting the rulebook. 

BETA’s CEO stated the program moves the company’s operational timeline one year forward. 

Archer CEO Adam Goldstein called the selection, “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."

The three-year clock starts this summer.

Watch the 57-second hype video here.

And read the FAA’s official release here.

Disclosure: This is not financial advice.