Archer Aviation in August completed an 88-kilometer piloted flight test with a Midnight prototype, the longest such flight to date with the design. Credit: Archer Aviation
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday unveiled a pilot program meant to “fast track” the introduction of electric air taxis and cargo aircraft by establishing partnerships between aircraft developers and state and local governments.
The program, dubbed eIPP, for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing & Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft Integration Pilot Program, doesn’t offer funding; instead, it will connect aircraft developers and other advanced air mobility companies with the governments to sign agreements to cooperate on certain issues. President Donald Trump directed DOT and FAA to create the eIPP in the June executive order, “Unleashing America Drone Dominance,” which stated that electric aircraft promise to “modernize methods for cargo delivery, passenger transport, and other advanced air mobility capabilities.”
In a news release, DOT said the program will support the rollout of AAM by “developing new frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operations” of electrified aircraft. This echoes similar efforts to support the drone industry by allowing limited uses and flight over certain corridors to explore navigation and air traffic issues.
“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,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in the release.
In a document outlining the eIPP parameters and requirements, DOT said the operations also will “generate data to inform FAA’s development of guidance and regulations” and “provide opportunities to accelerate commercial-use operations.”
California air taxi developers Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation immediately issued their own news releases saying they intend to participate in the program. BETA Technologies of Vermont also acknowledged the new program and outlined its existing work with state and local governments to deploy charging infrastructure and hold demonstration flights.
Asked how the eIPP will be different, a spokesman for Joby replied in an email that it will allow progress beyond demonstration flights because the program “contemplates pre-certification commercial operations (passenger, cargo, emergency response, etc.).” Such operations will showcase AAM to more members of the public.
Archer, for its part, indicated that transporting passengers to airports may be one type of operation it will pursue.
“Archer is now exploring pathways to work together with U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, and interested cities under the new program to design and execute trial operations of Archer’s Midnight aircraft as part of the eIPP,” the company said in its release. “The trials are expected to focus on demonstrating that eVTOL operations are safe, quiet, and scalable—key factors in building community trust and support for adoption of this new technology.”
Boeing subsidiary Wisk told me that it also intends to participate, and company executive Dan Dalton said in an email that the eIPP is “a critical approach that enables us to demonstrate the maturity and safety of our autonomous Gen 6 aircraft in a safe ‘sandbox’ environment and strengthen relationships with partners and potential launch cities.”
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