How FAA’s eVTOL Pilot Could Transform U.S. Air Travel

State, local, tribal, and territorial governments can participate in the program alongside private sector partners.

Jack Daleo

Friday, September 12, 2025 at 03:45 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Beta Technologies is developing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants of its electric Alia. [Courtesy: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA are launching the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) to safely integrate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, self-flying planes, and other advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies into U.S. airspace.
This White House-directed initiative seeks to generate data and experience over three years to shape national policy, regulations, and best practices for future commercial AAM operations in the U.S.
State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, in partnership with U.S. private sector AAM companies, are invited to submit proposals for at least five pilot projects demonstrating practical use cases and public benefits.
The eIPP aims to enable pre-certification operations of AAM aircraft, with major developers like Joby, Archer, Beta, and Wisk already expressing intent to participate.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA are launching a series of pilot programs for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, self-flying planes, short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, and other advanced air mobility (AAM) technology.

On Friday, the FAA called on state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to submit proposals for operational testing of these uncertified aircraft. The governments and their private sector partners will vie for at least five projects under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP)—a three-year, White House-directed initiative to safely integrate AAM aircraft into U.S. airspace.