On Monday, the United States Department of Transportation and the FAA announced the eight proposals that were selected as part of their new Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Veryical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program. Although much of the focus for the U.S. government with regard to the uncrewed aviation industry has focused on today’s sectors, including well-established ones and others like delivery that are still relatively young, this program focuses on a more futuristic industry revolving around eVTOLs. In their release, they refer to the technology as “futuristic aircraft” that have the potential to “generate new jobs, connect communities, and strengthen American leadership in aviation.”

This specific program was part of the Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order, signed by President Trump in June of last year, and focuses on “accelerating the safe integration” of this next generation of aircraft into the National Airspace. The pilot projects that were selected will act to create real-world testing environments for this technology. According to the release, the projects will be used by the FAA to “develop new regulations that safely enable this technology at scale.” 

They say that operations under this program will start by this summer, and the projects will span 26 states and involve operational concepts like urban air taxis, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response operations, autonomous flight technologies, and offshore and energy-sector transportation.

The following projects were selected from a group of over 30 proposals. (Text taken directly from the news release):

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

“Thanks to President Trump, the future of aviation is here — and it’s going to dramatically improve how people and products move,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in a statement. “Congratulations to the great American innovators behind each of these exciting pilot programs. Working together, we will ensure America leads the way in safely leveraging next-gen aircraft to radically redefine personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, emergency medicine, and so much more.” 

“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 in a statement. “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 DOT released this video along with the announcement: