FAA’s eIPP Air Taxi Trials Set to Launch in Summer 2026 Across Eight U.S. Regions
The United States is on the brink of a significant leap towards commercial air taxi operations. The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) pioneering eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is slated to commence real-world flight operations as early as summer 2026.
On March 9, 2026, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the FAA unveiled the eight selected proposals from across the nation to participate in this unique program, as detailed in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order. Collectively, these chosen projects will establish one of the most extensive real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft globally.
The key participants in this groundbreaking initiative include:
- Joby Aviation
- Archer Aviation (with its Midnight eVTOL)
- Beta Technologies
- Wisk Aero
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will collaborate with multiple industry partners on 12 different operational concepts, including eVTOL passenger operations at the Manhattan heliport. The Texas project will facilitate regional air taxi flights connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston.
Archer Aviation is gearing up for Midnight eVTOL flights in several states, with the aim of launching a commercial air taxi service at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Transportation Secretary Duffy hailed this endeavor as “the next great technological revolution in aviation,” stating it would “fundamentally improve how the traveling public and products move.”
Source: FAA.gov — FAA Unveils Eight Selections for eIPP Pilot Program