(UNITED STATES) Joby Aviation will begin early U.S. operations under the new White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, or eIPP, a three-year federal effort to bring electric air taxis and other advanced aircraft into day-to-day use. The company confirmed on September 12, 2025 that it will take part in the program created after Executive Order 14307 was signed on June 6, 2025. Led by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, the eIPP creates controlled trials in select markets while full FAA type certification continues.
The White House says the initiative is central to keeping the United States 🇺🇸 at the front of advanced air mobility. The eIPP will allow mature electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to demonstrate passenger transport, cargo delivery, and emergency response in real settings. These pilot projects are intended to produce safety data, refine procedures, and show how these aircraft can work with current air traffic, airport operations, and local communities.
Joby Aviation said it is ready for early operations after more than 40,000 miles of flight testing. The company completed nearly 600 flights in 2025 and flew what it described as the first piloted eVTOL trip between two public airports with commercial traffic. Joby remains in stage four of the FAA’s five-step type certification path and expects to fly its first FAA-conforming aircraft this year, with FAA pilot testing to begin in early 2026. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Joby’s inclusion underscores investor confidence and regulatory momentum.
The administration’s policy blueprint comes through EO 14307, titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” which directs the FAA to speed rules for advanced air mobility and publish an updated integration roadmap within 240 days. The government also plans to favor U.S.-built drones and eVTOLs in federal purchasing and export support, with the aim of strengthening domestic supply chains. Industry groups praised the move, saying it gives agencies and companies a clear path for trials and near-term service models.
Program structure, timeline, and participation
Under the eIPP, at least five pilot projects will be chosen across the country. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments have 90 days from the federal request to file proposals, and selections will be made within 180 days. Each project must include a private sector partner with proven eVTOL experience.
Joby invited public agencies seeking partners to email [email protected]. The company said it will focus on cases that build public trust, including medical transport and time-sensitive cargo, while preparing for passenger service.
Key program details:
– Purpose: Allow safe, lawful eVTOL operations before full type certification while collecting data.
– Scope: Passenger service, cargo, and medical response in select U.S. markets.
– Timeline: Proposals due within 90 days; decisions within 180 days; program runs three years.
– Eligibility: Mature designs and operational readiness required for selection.
Important deadlines: governments have 90 days to submit proposals and the government will announce selections within 180 days.
Joby’s readiness and production plans
Greg Bowles, Joby’s chief policy officer, pointed to the company’s 15+ years of technology development and said Joby can deliver early operations in U.S. communities under the eIPP.
Operational and manufacturing highlights:
– Flight testing: >40,000 miles and nearly 600 flights in 2025.
– Certification status: In stage four of five toward FAA type certification.
– FAA-conforming aircraft: Expected to fly this year; FAA pilot testing to begin in early 2026.
– Manufacturing footprint: 435,000 sq. ft. facility in Marina, California.
– Planned production rate: 24 aircraft per year (planned doubling).
– New ramp-up: Dayton, Ohio.
– Market signal: Joby’s stock is up 77% year-to-date in 2025.
Joby emphasized focus areas: building public trust, medical and time-sensitive cargo missions, and preparing for passenger operations after validation.
How missions will be staged and evaluated
Program leaders say early missions under the eIPP will be limited and carefully staged. Selected operators will work with air traffic control, airports, and local agencies to test:
- Boarding procedures
- Charging operations
- Ground handling
- Flight operations
- Maintenance processes
- Emergency response
FAA responsibilities during pilots:
– Review safety cases
– Validate performance data
– Refine standards for pilot training, maintenance, and airworthiness
– Use AI tools for faster waiver reviews
– Accelerate rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations
Stakeholder reactions and policy implications
The White House frames this program as part of a broader push to secure U.S. leadership in advanced aviation and to retain core manufacturing domestically. The intent is to move beyond lab and test ranges into controlled, real operations that match public expectations.
Industry response:
– Industry associations such as AUVSI and leaders from Ascent AeroSystems, D-Fend Solutions, AURA Network Systems, and AirGyde praised EO 14307 and the eIPP.
– They argue that federal direction will help companies invest in production, workforce training, and maintenance.
– Analysts view the eIPP as a scale test to clarify which aircraft and business models are ready for broader deployment.
Other developers, including Archer Aviation, are preparing to compete for eIPP slots, signaling a race to demonstrate safe, repeatable service.
Benefits for state and local governments
For state and local governments, the program offers a way to:
– Attract new jobs
– Shape how aircraft operate in communities
– Collaborate with airports, emergency services, and universities
The eIPP encourages public-private partnerships and allows officials to set measurable goals, such as:
– Improved response times for medical deliveries
– Access to remote areas
– Quieter transport across congested corridors
Community impact, concerns, and requirements
Communities will want clear answers on safety and noise. Pilot projects are expected to establish:
– Transparent operating windows
– Approved routes
– Procedures for diversified weather conditions
The FAA’s role is to ensure trials meet high safety standards and use results to refine the updated integration roadmap required by EO 14307. That roadmap will outline how eVTOLs and uncrewed systems integrate into the National Airspace System.
Project proposal requirements (high level):
– Include a qualified private partner with eVTOL experience
– Specify intended missions and public benefits
– Outline infrastructure needs (charging, maintenance, vertiports)
– Describe community engagement plans and noise mitigation
Warning: Public acceptance is essential. Success depends on flights being safe, quiet, and reliable. Careful vertiport siting, clear noise communications, and integration with ground transport and emergency services are critical.
Challenges and the near-term outlook
There are several challenges ahead:
– Coordinated follow-through by federal agencies
– Tight integration with air traffic control
– Strong local partnerships and community engagement
– Robust spare parts and maintenance logistics
The next 6–12 months will be decisive:
1. Government selects pilot sites.
2. Joby flies its first FAA-conforming aircraft.
3. FAA publishes its updated integration roadmap.
If these steps proceed on schedule, limited eVTOL service in a handful of U.S. cities could begin in late 2026 or early 2027, pending pilot results and final certification.
How agencies should prepare
State or local agencies that want to participate should:
– Highlight high-value public missions (e.g., time-sensitive medical delivery)
– Demonstrate how operations will meet safety and noise goals
– Line up airport partners early
– Identify charging and maintenance locations
– Set a process for community input and engagement
As pilot projects progress, agencies can benchmark outcomes and share results so other regions can build safe programs without starting from scratch.
Sources and where to learn more
For official program materials, the White House has posted EO 14307 and related guidance online. Readers can review the action at the White House’s official portal: Unleashing American Drone Dominance.
Joby maintains program updates and partnership information at its corporate site: Joby Aviation. The company says public agencies can reach its eIPP team at [email protected] to discuss fit, timelines, and operational goals under the program’s rules.
If the eIPP delivers steady, safe results, it could set a template for broader eVTOL use across the country. The program’s structure—limited trials, shared data, and rapid regulatory learning—aims to prove what works before scaling. For Joby Aviation, the path runs through more test hours, FAA-conforming aircraft, and field operations under close oversight. For communities, the eIPP offers a controlled way to see these aircraft serve real needs while keeping strong safety guardrails in place.
This Article in a Nutshell
The White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), established under Executive Order 14307, will run three years to test mature eVTOL aircraft in real-world passenger, cargo, and emergency missions while full FAA type certification proceeds. Joby Aviation joined the program on September 12, 2025, bringing more than 40,000 flight miles and nearly 600 flights in 2025, and is in stage four of five of FAA certification. The eIPP will select at least five pilot sites, with subnational governments submitting proposals within 90 days and selections made within 180 days. Pilots aim to collect safety data, refine procedures (boarding, charging, maintenance), and integrate operations with air traffic and communities. The FAA will validate safety cases, refine standards, and accelerate rules for BVLOS using AI tools for waiver reviews. If milestones—site selection, Joby’s FAA-conforming flight, and the FAA integration roadmap—are met over the next 6–12 months, limited eVTOL services could begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Community engagement, noise mitigation, and strong public-private partnerships are highlighted as essential for success.
