Helis, September 14, 2025 - The White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program was launched in mid-2025 as part of a broader executive order intended to accelerate the adoption of advanced aviation technologies in the United States.
The initiative seeks to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—commonly known as eVTOLs—into real-world service while the Federal Aviation Administration continues its longer process of certification. By doing so, the program represents a political and regulatory push to ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in emerging air mobility, a field that is drawing global attention from investors, technology developers, and municipal planners alike.
The program is structured around a series of pilot projects that will be hosted by selected state, local, tribal, and territorial governments working in partnership with private companies. These projects are designed to allow eVTOLs to operate in controlled environments, where lessons can be gathered on safety, community acceptance, infrastructure requirements, and integration with existing airspace. By emphasizing collaboration between the public and private sectors, the White House intends to foster rapid experimentation and adaptation while keeping oversight firmly in place to protect the public interest.
Leading eVTOL developers, including Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, have already announced their participation, seeing the program as a pathway to begin operating before full certification is achieved. Their proposals involve introducing passenger air taxis, cargo delivery flights, and specialized services such as medical transport and emergency response missions. These operations are expected to demonstrate not only the technical capabilities of eVTOLs but also their potential benefits in urban and regional mobility, especially in cities that struggle with traffic congestion and areas that lack fast transportation options.
Beyond the immediate demonstration flights, the broader aim of the initiative is to build the regulatory and social foundations for scaling up eVTOL operations across the country. Each pilot project is set to run for three years, with findings reported annually to both the President and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. If successful, the program will provide a roadmap for how to integrate this new class of aircraft into the National Airspace System, moving from limited trials to widespread adoption and, ultimately, reshaping how Americans travel within and between their cities.
Joby Aviation - SANTA CRUZ, CA - Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing air taxis for commercial passenger service, announced plans to participate in the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The President’s recent Executive Order (EO) directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that mature eVTOL (electric vertical take off and landing) aircraft can begin operations in select markets ahead of full FAA certification, a critical step in preparing for scaled commercial service.
Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby, said “President Trump has long recognized the significance of America’s leadership in the next era of aviation and this initiative ensures our nation’s leadership will continue. We’ve spent more than 15 years building the aircraft technology and operational capabilities that are defining advanced aerial mobility, and we’re ready to bring our services to communities. We look forward to demonstrating our aircraft's maturity and delivering early operations in cities and states nationwide.”
The eIPP is designed to allow mature aircraft designs to demonstrate eVTOL use cases, such as passenger transportation, cargo delivery, and emergency response, ahead of achieving type certification. The program requires participating partners to have a high level of maturity in aircraft capabilities and a degree of readiness that facilitates operations from the time that community projects are chosen.
Joby is well positioned to deliver on these fronts:
- Operational Readiness: Joby has the most mature eVTOL aircraft in the sector and has validated its aircraft capabilities in a variety of contexts, particularly its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities required for use cases where runway infrastructure is not available, such as in and around cities. The company has over 40,000 miles of flight testing across its fleet, with nearly 600 flights in 2025 alone. Joby recently completed its first flight between two public airports during which it integrated with commercial air traffic. In addition, the company’s flight tests across five countries have demonstrated the resiliency of the aircraft in a variety of conditions, including multiple flights and full VTOL transition in Dubai’s extreme heat conditions.
- Late Stages of FAA Certification: Joby is making what it believes to be sector-leading progress on certification, as it moves through the fourth of five stages in the FAA Type Certification process. Joby expects to fly its first of five FAA-conforming aircraft this year and to begin flight testing with FAA pilots onboard early next year.
- Scaling Production Capacity: Supported by Toyota, Joby designs, tests and builds nearly every aspect of its aircraft and air taxi service in-house. This vertical integration strategy is creating U.S. jobs and can help accelerate the process of development, testing and certification. With the completion of its expanded manufacturing space in Marina, California, Joby plans to double its production capacity to up to 24 aircraft per year across a total of 435,000 square feet. In Dayton, Ohio, Joby is ramping up manufacturing facilities in support of large scale aircraft production.
Joby’s planned participation in the eIPP aligns with the company’s long-standing commitment to working closely with regulators and communities to introduce its technology. The company is already working in close collaboration with state and local governments, including those in Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York, California, and more. In Texas, the program builds on the excitement surrounding the Center for Advanced Aviation Mobility (CAAM). Applications are now open and projects will be chosen in the next 180 days.
About Joby : Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi. Joby intends to both operate its fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners.
Archer Aviation - Washington, DC - Today, Archer Aviation Inc. announced it is aiming to participate in the White House’s newly established eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) alongside U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, and interested cities. This is the first federal initiative designed specifically to accelerate real world electric air taxi operations in the U.S.
Initially outlined in June 2025 as part of the “Unleashing Drone Dominance” Executive Order, the DOT and FAA announced today a framework for cities across the U.S. to participate in the eIPP with OEMs and operators like Archer, unlocking a path to supervised, pre-certification trial operations of eVTOL aircraft in the U.S. as soon as next year.
Archer is now exploring pathways to work together with U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, and interested cities under the new program to design and execute trial operations of Archer's Midnight aircraft as part of the eIPP. The trials are expected to focus on demonstrating that eVTOL operations are safe, quiet and scalable—key factors in building community trust and support for adoption of this new technology.
Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO, said “This is a landmark moment for our industry and our country. We have an Administration that is prioritizing the integration of eVTOL operations in U.S. cities ahead of full certification in a pragmatic way. We’ll demonstrate that air taxis can operate safely and quietly. These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations in the U.S. and beyond.”
Mike Leskinen, Archer's United Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said “When United invested in Archer back in 2021, it was because we believed electric flying taxis could redefine how we move around our passengers in and around the cities they are departing and arriving at every day. Today, that vision is closer than ever. This program underscores President Trump’s and Secretary Duffy’s commitment to American innovation and to bringing advanced technology to market for our customers.”
The eIPP marks the next step in moving from development to deployment, building momentum toward full-scale commercialization in the years ahead. This program will provide critical operational data and community engagement needed to scale this new mode of transportation.
About Archer : Archer (NYSE: ACHR) is designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation.
FAA - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced a new pilot program within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accelerate the deployment of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles. These new technologies have the potential to transform aviation, including expanding connectivity to rural American communities, reducing road congestion in urban areas, and enhancing emergency services or medical transport. The action follows President Trump’s executive order to unleash American drone dominance.
The pilot program, known as the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), will form public-private partnerships with State and local government entities and private sector companies to develop new frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operations.
"The next great technological revolution in aviation is here. The United States will lead the way, and doing so will cement America’s status as a global leader in transportation innovation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "That means more high-paying manufacturing jobs and economic opportunity. By safely testing the deployment of these futuristic air taxis and other AAM vehicles, we can fundamentally improve how the traveling public and products move."
"This pilot program gives us another opportunity to advance the Administration’s plan to accelerate safe eVTOL and advanced air mobility operations across the United States," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "We will take the lessons learned from these projects to enable safe, scalable AAM operations nationwide."
The eIPP will include at least five pilot projects. It will run for three years after the first project becomes operational. Envisioned eIPP operations include piloted and unmanned approaches to:
- Short-range air taxis
- Longer-range, fixed wing flights
- Cargo
- Logistics and supply serving emergency management, medical transport or off-shore energy facilities
- Increasing automation safety
Additional Information:
As part of the eIPP, the FAA is seeking participants for a public-private partnership program to demonstrate the viability of new AAM technologies including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in ways that deliver new benefits to the American public. Applicants must be a State, local, tribal or territorial government with a U.S.-based private sector partner or partners.
Participants will use piloted, optionally piloted, or unmanned AAM aircraft that will generally be over 1,320 lbs. and may be capable of carrying passengers. Participants will also include technologies enabling safe integration of these aircraft into the national airspace system.
The initiative seeks to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—commonly known as eVTOLs—into real-world service while the Federal Aviation Administration continues its longer process of certification. By doing so, the program represents a political and regulatory push to ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in emerging air mobility, a field that is drawing global attention from investors, technology developers, and municipal planners alike.
The program is structured around a series of pilot projects that will be hosted by selected state, local, tribal, and territorial governments working in partnership with private companies. These projects are designed to allow eVTOLs to operate in controlled environments, where lessons can be gathered on safety, community acceptance, infrastructure requirements, and integration with existing airspace. By emphasizing collaboration between the public and private sectors, the White House intends to foster rapid experimentation and adaptation while keeping oversight firmly in place to protect the public interest.
Leading eVTOL developers, including Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, have already announced their participation, seeing the program as a pathway to begin operating before full certification is achieved. Their proposals involve introducing passenger air taxis, cargo delivery flights, and specialized services such as medical transport and emergency response missions. These operations are expected to demonstrate not only the technical capabilities of eVTOLs but also their potential benefits in urban and regional mobility, especially in cities that struggle with traffic congestion and areas that lack fast transportation options.
Beyond the immediate demonstration flights, the broader aim of the initiative is to build the regulatory and social foundations for scaling up eVTOL operations across the country. Each pilot project is set to run for three years, with findings reported annually to both the President and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. If successful, the program will provide a roadmap for how to integrate this new class of aircraft into the National Airspace System, moving from limited trials to widespread adoption and, ultimately, reshaping how Americans travel within and between their cities.
Joby Plans to Jumpstart US Operations
Joby Aviation - SANTA CRUZ, CA - Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing air taxis for commercial passenger service, announced plans to participate in the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The President’s recent Executive Order (EO) directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that mature eVTOL (electric vertical take off and landing) aircraft can begin operations in select markets ahead of full FAA certification, a critical step in preparing for scaled commercial service.
Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby, said “President Trump has long recognized the significance of America’s leadership in the next era of aviation and this initiative ensures our nation’s leadership will continue. We’ve spent more than 15 years building the aircraft technology and operational capabilities that are defining advanced aerial mobility, and we’re ready to bring our services to communities. We look forward to demonstrating our aircraft's maturity and delivering early operations in cities and states nationwide.”
The eIPP is designed to allow mature aircraft designs to demonstrate eVTOL use cases, such as passenger transportation, cargo delivery, and emergency response, ahead of achieving type certification. The program requires participating partners to have a high level of maturity in aircraft capabilities and a degree of readiness that facilitates operations from the time that community projects are chosen.
Joby is well positioned to deliver on these fronts:
- Operational Readiness: Joby has the most mature eVTOL aircraft in the sector and has validated its aircraft capabilities in a variety of contexts, particularly its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities required for use cases where runway infrastructure is not available, such as in and around cities. The company has over 40,000 miles of flight testing across its fleet, with nearly 600 flights in 2025 alone. Joby recently completed its first flight between two public airports during which it integrated with commercial air traffic. In addition, the company’s flight tests across five countries have demonstrated the resiliency of the aircraft in a variety of conditions, including multiple flights and full VTOL transition in Dubai’s extreme heat conditions.
- Late Stages of FAA Certification: Joby is making what it believes to be sector-leading progress on certification, as it moves through the fourth of five stages in the FAA Type Certification process. Joby expects to fly its first of five FAA-conforming aircraft this year and to begin flight testing with FAA pilots onboard early next year.
- Scaling Production Capacity: Supported by Toyota, Joby designs, tests and builds nearly every aspect of its aircraft and air taxi service in-house. This vertical integration strategy is creating U.S. jobs and can help accelerate the process of development, testing and certification. With the completion of its expanded manufacturing space in Marina, California, Joby plans to double its production capacity to up to 24 aircraft per year across a total of 435,000 square feet. In Dayton, Ohio, Joby is ramping up manufacturing facilities in support of large scale aircraft production.
Joby’s planned participation in the eIPP aligns with the company’s long-standing commitment to working closely with regulators and communities to introduce its technology. The company is already working in close collaboration with state and local governments, including those in Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York, California, and more. In Texas, the program builds on the excitement surrounding the Center for Advanced Aviation Mobility (CAAM). Applications are now open and projects will be chosen in the next 180 days.
About Joby : Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi. Joby intends to both operate its fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners.
Archer Advances Plans for Air Taxi Trial Participation
Archer Aviation - Washington, DC - Today, Archer Aviation Inc. announced it is aiming to participate in the White House’s newly established eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) alongside U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, and interested cities. This is the first federal initiative designed specifically to accelerate real world electric air taxi operations in the U.S.
Initially outlined in June 2025 as part of the “Unleashing Drone Dominance” Executive Order, the DOT and FAA announced today a framework for cities across the U.S. to participate in the eIPP with OEMs and operators like Archer, unlocking a path to supervised, pre-certification trial operations of eVTOL aircraft in the U.S. as soon as next year.
Archer is now exploring pathways to work together with U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, and interested cities under the new program to design and execute trial operations of Archer's Midnight aircraft as part of the eIPP. The trials are expected to focus on demonstrating that eVTOL operations are safe, quiet and scalable—key factors in building community trust and support for adoption of this new technology.
Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO, said “This is a landmark moment for our industry and our country. We have an Administration that is prioritizing the integration of eVTOL operations in U.S. cities ahead of full certification in a pragmatic way. We’ll demonstrate that air taxis can operate safely and quietly. These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations in the U.S. and beyond.”
Mike Leskinen, Archer's United Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said “When United invested in Archer back in 2021, it was because we believed electric flying taxis could redefine how we move around our passengers in and around the cities they are departing and arriving at every day. Today, that vision is closer than ever. This program underscores President Trump’s and Secretary Duffy’s commitment to American innovation and to bringing advanced technology to market for our customers.”
The eIPP marks the next step in moving from development to deployment, building momentum toward full-scale commercialization in the years ahead. This program will provide critical operational data and community engagement needed to scale this new mode of transportation.
About Archer : Archer (NYSE: ACHR) is designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation.
Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils New Plan to Fast-Track Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles
FAA - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced a new pilot program within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accelerate the deployment of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles. These new technologies have the potential to transform aviation, including expanding connectivity to rural American communities, reducing road congestion in urban areas, and enhancing emergency services or medical transport. The action follows President Trump’s executive order to unleash American drone dominance.
The pilot program, known as the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), will form public-private partnerships with State and local government entities and private sector companies to develop new frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operations.
"The next great technological revolution in aviation is here. The United States will lead the way, and doing so will cement America’s status as a global leader in transportation innovation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "That means more high-paying manufacturing jobs and economic opportunity. By safely testing the deployment of these futuristic air taxis and other AAM vehicles, we can fundamentally improve how the traveling public and products move."
"This pilot program gives us another opportunity to advance the Administration’s plan to accelerate safe eVTOL and advanced air mobility operations across the United States," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "We will take the lessons learned from these projects to enable safe, scalable AAM operations nationwide."
The eIPP will include at least five pilot projects. It will run for three years after the first project becomes operational. Envisioned eIPP operations include piloted and unmanned approaches to:
- Short-range air taxis
- Longer-range, fixed wing flights
- Cargo
- Logistics and supply serving emergency management, medical transport or off-shore energy facilities
- Increasing automation safety
Additional Information:
As part of the eIPP, the FAA is seeking participants for a public-private partnership program to demonstrate the viability of new AAM technologies including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in ways that deliver new benefits to the American public. Applicants must be a State, local, tribal or territorial government with a U.S.-based private sector partner or partners.
Participants will use piloted, optionally piloted, or unmanned AAM aircraft that will generally be over 1,320 lbs. and may be capable of carrying passengers. Participants will also include technologies enabling safe integration of these aircraft into the national airspace system.
See also |
Urban Air Mobility 
District of Columbia Washington DC Joby Aviation Archer Aviation State of California 
