The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has chosen eight pilot projects to develop and deploy air taxi networks across the nation. Operations could begin this summer, according to federal officials.
The Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated to safely integrating next-generation Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into national airspace. The program will create real-world testing environments providing critical data to understand operational viability and guide the development of new safety regulations.
The eight proposals selected to participate in the program were from:
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
- Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
- Louisiana.
- Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
- North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
- City of Albuquerque.
The eIPP received more than 30 proposals from entities across the nation. With the final eight proposals chosen, all projects will proceed into the next phase of the program.
PANYNJ will collaborate with four industry partners to develop 12 operational concepts across New England. These will include implementing eVTOL passenger operations at the Manhattan heliport.
TxDOT will develop regional eVTOL test flights between the state’s largest urban hubs – Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. In addition, the project will expand accessibility into rural areas to aid in both transit and cargo transportation.
UDOT will partner with four other states – Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Oklahoma – alongside other industry partners and research institutions to test a range of next-generation aircraft and operational concepts. Testing will occur across multiple biomes throughout Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains and the Plains of Oklahoma. By targeting urban areas, rural corridors, mountainous terrain and wildfire-prone regions, the department aims to consolidate data on how Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft perform in real-world situations and environments.
PennDOT will lead the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) AAM Multistate Collaborative to revitalize regional flights, targeting 13 states. The Collaborative enables states to discuss policies and infrastructure needed to promote and advance AAM operations. The work performed for the eIPP, in collaboration with industry partners, will help secure reliable alternative transportation across the nation, including routes like those supported through the Essential Air Service program.
The state of Louisiana will use the Houma-Terrebonne Airport (HUM) as the testing bed for expanding cargo and personnel transportation capabilities for flights over the Gulf of Mexico and to domestic locations. These flights provide direct connections to nearby energy industry facilities in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi
FDOT will advance a three-phase initiative to dramatically improve cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation and medical response measures through eVTOL integration. Alongside the state’s selection to participate in the eIPP, Florida lawmakers passed House Bill 1093 updating state law to include vertiports and their associated charging systems to qualify for public-private partnerships (P3).
NCDOT plans to establish a statewide eVTOL aviation network to connect critical amenities, including hospitals, airports and rural communities. The pilot will consist of three phases, with a fourth following completion. These phases will the foundational establishment of core routes, scaling operations with longer routes, introducing innovative eVTOL technologies and eventually expanding into hospital pad-to-pad transport missions for medical deliveries and creating an interwoven AAM network that will extend into Virginia. Phase 4 will focus on commercialization.
The city of Albuquerque will collaborate with an existing advanced autonomy developer to make breakthroughs in autonomous operations.
Photo by Pixabay
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