DOT Selects Eight Projects for AAM Integration Trials

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rolled out its highly anticipated advanced air mobility (AAM) integration program on the eve of Verticon, announcing the selection of eight projects that will include trials throughout the country with several major AAM developers.

Unveiled in June as part of the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” executive order, the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is intended to set the foundation for the safe operation of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and other AAM vehicles in the National Airspace System. It comes as AAM developers approach FAA type certification and get ready to launch operations.

According to the DOT, the program “will create one of the largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft in the world.” Data from the trials will be used to develop regulations to enable the scale of these operations. The projects are expected to kick off in the upcoming months.

In all, the eight projects will span 26 states and cover a range of operations, including urban air taxi, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics, emergency medical response, autonomous flight technologies, and offshore and energy transport.

Maintaining that these operations will dramatically improve transportation, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “Working together, we will ensure America leads the way in safely leveraging next-gen aircraft to radically redefine personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, emergency medicine, and so much more.”

FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau further noted that the projects will provide a better understanding of how to safely and efficiently integrate the aircraft into the NAS. “The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe advanced air mobility operations.”

Among the eIPP partners, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will work with Archer, Beta, Electra, and Joby on 12 different operational concepts in New England, including electric air taxi operations at the Manhattan heliport.

Another partner, the Texas Department of Transportation, will test regional flights involving air taxi networks connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and, eventually, Houston. Archer, Beta, Joby, and Wisk will participate.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Oklahoma plains, the Utah Department of Transportation will trial a range of aircraft and operational concepts involving Ampaire, Beta, Joby, and other AAM developers.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will work through the NASAO AAM Multistate Collaborative to trial regional flights across 13 states in support of the Essential Air Service program with Beta, Electra, and others.

Louisiana will participate in operational tests conducted over the Gulf and at energy industry locations in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. This will involve Beta, Elroy Air, and others.

The Florida Department of Transportation will work with multiple industry partners in phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response. Archer, Beta, Electra, and Joby, among others, are on tap for these operations.

Exploring medical and regional operations will be the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which will also test autonomous flights extending into Virginia. The state will work with Beta and Joby, among others.

Albuquerque is trialing a project to advance autonomous operations in concert with flight automation specialist Reliable Robotics.

These eight projects were selected from more than 30 proposals. The DOT said they were selected based on their ability to accelerate AAM integration, the breadth of concepts proposed, and their potential for regulatory and policy insights.