Electric air taxis are about to take flight in 26 states
Source: TechCrunch
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved eight pilot programs that will let a handful of companies—Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation, and Wisk among them—begin widespread electric aircraft testing as early as this summer.
Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
- Duration: 3 years
- Geographic scope: 26 U.S. states
- Goal: Accelerate the development of next‑generation aircraft for personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, and emergency medicine.
The program was announced last year through an executive order by President Donald Trump and is intended to keep U.S. companies at the forefront of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology.
“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 prepared statement.
Companies and Expected Impact
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Beta Technologies – Founder and CEO Kyle Clark said selection for the program will allow the company to start operations a year earlier than planned, sending its stock up nearly 12 % on the announcement day.
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Archer Aviation – Comparing the eVTOL program to robotaxi testing, Archer expects the experience to build trust and create a playbook for scaling electric air taxis. Its four‑passenger, piloted eVTOL Midnight is being prepared for air‑taxi service in Los Angeles during the 2028 Olympic Games.
Image credit: Archer Aviation -
Joby Aviation – Publicly traded; saw a modest stock rise following the announcement.
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Wisk – Also publicly traded; participated in the pilot program.
The FAA received 30 proposals and will fund testing even though the aircraft have not yet received full regulatory certification. This accelerated timeline could boost both development progress and market valuations for participating eVTOL firms.
State and Local Partnerships
The pilot program requires collaboration with state, local, tribal, or territorial governments. Key partnerships include:
| State / Agency | Partner Companies | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Port Authority of New York & New Jersey | Archer, Beta, Electra, Joby | Urban air‑taxi concepts, including operations from a Manhattan heliport |
| Texas Department of Transportation | Archer, Beta, Joby, Wisk | Regional flights linking Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston; building a network of air‑taxi routes |
| Utah | Multiple eVTOL firms | Testing across the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Oklahoma Plains |
| Pennsylvania Department of Transportation | Various participants | 13‑state initiative to revitalize regional air travel |
| Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina DOTs | Various participants | Cargo delivery, medical response, and automation projects |
| Albuquerque (city) | Reliable Robotics | Autonomous eVTOL operations |
Image credit: U.S. Department of Transportation
Application Areas
- Urban air taxis – Short‑range passenger transport within metropolitan areas.
- Regional flights – Connecting mid‑size cities across state lines.
- Cargo and logistics – Companies such as Beta and Elroy Air will test freight and personnel transport to energy‑industry sites in the Gulf of Mexico region.
- Medical response – Rapid deployment of emergency medical services via eVTOL platforms.
Outlook
The FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program is poised to give U.S. eVTOL developers a fast‑track to real‑world testing, potentially shortening certification timelines and expanding market confidence. By leveraging partnerships with state and local governments, the program aims to create a diverse set of use cases—from urban air taxis to cargo delivery—across a broad swath of the United States.
For more details, see the FAA’s briefing room announcement and the original executive order: