Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new pilot program within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accelerate the deployment of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles. AAM is a form of air transportation that uses electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to move people and cargo between places not currently or easily served by surface transportation or existing aviation modes.
The pilot program, called the Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) will form public-private partnerships with state and local government entities and private sector companies to develop a framework and regulations to enable safe AAM operations. The eIPP will include at least five pilot programs over three years after the first project becomes operational. Envisioned eIPP operations include piloted and unmanned approaches to: (1) short-range air taxis; (2) longer-range, fixed wing flights; (3) cargo; (4) logistics and supply serving emergency management, medical transport, or off-shore energy facilities; and (5) increased automation safety.