Sept. 14 (UPI) — A pilot program to establish electric flying taxis as a viable transportation option has been unveiled by the administration of President Donald Trump.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday that it would administer the pilot program, officially the Electrical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program, which will form public-private partnerships between local governments and private sector companies to develop new frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operations.
The announcement comes after Trump penned an executive order in June for “unleashing drone dominance.” At the time, the president had said the United States “must accelerate the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into the National Airspace System.”
The pilot would cover passenger trips and cargo runs, testing crewed eVTOL aircraft alongside remotely piloted and autonomous drones.
“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,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“That means more high-paying manufacturing jobs and economic opportunity. By safely testing the deployment of these futuristic air taxis and other [advanced air mobility] vehicles, we can fundamentally improve how the traveling public and products move.”
The FAA said that the program will include at least five pilot projects and run for three years after the first becomes operational. So far, at least two companies have expressed willingness to participate.
Joby Aviation, a California-based firm developing air taxis for commercial passenger service, said that the program ensures such air taxis can take off in select markets before a full FAA certification. In 2023, the FAA greenlit a plan from the company to begin test flights on a prototype.
“We’ve spent more than 15 years building the aircraft technology and operational capabilities that are defining advanced aerial mobility, and we’re ready to bring our services to communities,” Joby’s chief policy officer, Greg Bowles, said in a statement.
“We look forward to demonstrating our aircraft’s maturity and delivering early operations in cities and states nationwide.”
Another firm, Archer Aviation, heralded the announcement as the “first federal initiative designed specifically to accelerate real-world electric air taxi operations in the U.S.”
“This is a landmark moment for our industry and our country,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer founder and CEO. “These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations in the U.S. and beyond.”