(UNITED STATES) The Federal Aviation Administration has launched the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program, or eIPP, opening a new path for early, real-world use of air taxis and other advanced air mobility (AAM) services in the United States 🇺🇸. Announced in early September 2025 by the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation, the program will let selected teams run limited commercial operations before full regulatory certification, a break from the past model of small, isolated test flights.
Applications are due by December 11, 2025, and at least five pilot projects are expected to begin as soon as 2026 and run for up to three years.
Purpose and Scope of the eIPP
The eIPP is designed to accelerate the safe deployment of eVTOL and other AAM vehicles. Its scope includes:
- Air taxi airport transfers (short-range eVTOL routes linking airports and city centers)
- Longer-range, fixed-wing electric flights connecting suburbs and smaller cities
- Cargo hauling, including supply-chain runs, emergency logistics, and medical transport
- Demonstrations of automation safety to build public trust and inform certification pathways
The FAA says the goal is to gather operational data to write better rules—particularly on safety and noise—and to understand how these aircraft can scale into busy city and regional airspace. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said, “We will take the lessons learned from these projects to enable safe, scalable AAM operations nationwide.”
President Trump ordered federal agencies in 2025 to fast-track U.S. progress in drones and AAM to keep the country competitive. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said:
“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. 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.”
Who’s Interested and Eligibility
Major companies signaling interest include Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, BETA Technologies, and Boeing’s Wisk. Archer is teaming with United Airlines, and Wisk intends to demonstrate autonomous aircraft.
Key eligibility and structure points:
- Applicants must be state, local, tribal, or territorial governments working with U.S.-based private companies.
- Aircraft are expected to weigh over 1,320 pounds and may carry passengers—linking this effort to real travel, not just small drone testing.
- The FAA expects teams to include government partners and to submit joint plans for operational trials.
Program Details and Timeline
Under the eIPP, the FAA will choose at least five pilot projects with emphasis on safety, technical maturity, and public benefit.
Important dates and durations:
– Application window: now through December 11, 2025
– Project start: as soon as 2026
– Project duration: up to three years
– Broader goal: support routine, larger-scale AAM operations by 2028 under the agency’s “Innovate28” plan
– International alignment targeted by Q4 2027
Selected projects must collect and share data to guide future FAA guidance and rulemaking.
What projects may include
- Short-range eVTOL air taxi routes (airport-to-city-center)
- Longer-range fixed-wing electric flights between towns and suburbs
- Cargo runs for supply chains, emergency logistics, and medical transport
- Automation safety demonstrations
The FAA is coordinating with partners in the U.K., Australia, and other countries to harmonize safety standards and help U.S. companies scale internationally.
Industry and Community Impact
For eVTOL startups, the eIPP offers a faster route to market by allowing limited commercial flights before full certification, under strict oversight. This helps companies prove reliability while regulators monitor operations.
VisaVerge.com analysis suggests early revenue and real-world data could attract investment into:
– Manufacturing
– Charging infrastructure
– Fleet coordination software
Airports are central to the plan. Authorities are being urged to develop AAM master plans that include:
– Site selection for vertiports
– Power upgrades for fast charging
– Clear operational concepts (CONOPS) showing integration with traditional operations
Concerns and planning points:
– Peak power demand at vertiports could be high
– Careful layout is needed to ensure safe flight paths and reduce ground congestion
– Community engagement is essential to address noise, safety, and airspace management
The FAA notes that existing noise rules apply, and new data from the eIPP will inform whether additional measures are needed.
Program Structure and Evaluation
The FAA will evaluate submissions based on:
– Safety approach
– Scalability
– Public benefits
– Readiness to begin operations
Selected teams will conduct operational trials with tracked and shared performance data and incidents. If results demonstrate safety and reliability, the FAA may gradually expand flight envelopes—always based on safety outcomes.
Staged process for operators (numbered steps):
1. Form a government–private partnership.
2. Submit the full application by December 11, 2025.
3. If selected, stand up initial operations in 2026.
4. Run the project for up to three years.
5. Share data on safety, reliability, noise, and passenger/cargo outcomes to inform rulemaking.
Practical Benefits for Travelers, Shippers, and Communities
Early-use cases are likely to be practical:
– Airport shuttles that reduce cross-town travel times
– Medical transport for organs and high-value supplies
– Cargo runs closing last-mile gaps
If safety and performance are sustained, routes could expand and per-trip costs could fall as fleets scale.
Workforce and economic effects:
– Demand for skilled workers in battery systems, avionics, charging networks, and maintenance
– Potential for good jobs near airports and manufacturing hubs
– Need for training programs to keep up with new systems
– Communities that plan early may attract investment and employers
Key Evidence Sought by Regulators
Regulators will use eIPP data to answer questions about:
– Handling of repeated flight cycles in busy corridors
– Battery performance, charging times, and grid demand at vertiports
– Pilot workload and the path toward greater automation
– Flight path designs that minimize noise in dense neighborhoods
– Emergency procedures and coordination with local responders
Industry leaders see the eIPP as a turning point from demos to sustained, day-to-day service. Airport and city officials want routes to meet real needs and be equitable in site selection.
International Coordination and the Innovate28 Plan
Aligned rules by Q4 2027 with partners like the U.K. and Australia would:
– Ease scaling of production
– Open overseas routes for U.S. firms
– Speed adoption of common safety standards across markets
The eIPP feeds into the FAA’s larger Innovate28 plan, which includes:
– Digital traffic management tools
– Pilot training standards
– Vertiport design guidance
The agency has published vertiport guidance and is updating operational blueprints; data from the eIPP will shape future updates so that rules reflect real-world risk and performance.
Stakeholders say the next few months are pivotal. Teams must lock down partnerships, pick routes, finalize vertiport sites, confirm power needs and backups, and budget for community outreach and noise studies.
For official program details, application steps, and ongoing updates, visit the FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility page at the FAA’s official AAM hub.
This Article in a Nutshell
The FAA launched the eIPP in September 2025 to accelerate deployment of eVTOLs and AAM by allowing selected government–private teams to run limited commercial operations before full certification. Applications are due December 11, 2025; at least five pilots are expected to start in 2026 and run up to three years. Projects will test air taxi routes, longer-range electric fixed-wing flights, cargo and medical logistics, and automation safety. The FAA will evaluate proposals on safety, technical maturity, scalability and public benefit. Collected data on safety, noise, battery performance and operations will inform future FAA rulemaking and support Innovate28 goals toward broader AAM operations by 2028.
