U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 10 announced eight proposals had been selected as part of the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). 

According to FlyingMag.com, the eight pilot projects selected under the eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) eIPP — a three-year study created in response to President Donald Trump’s June 2025 executive order — will fall somewhere between internal sandbox testing and real-world commercial operations. The electronic aircraft will be allowed to soar into airports, interact with air traffic controllers (ATCs), and, in certain cases, fly cargo for revenue.

The FAA says the American public will start to see operations begin under this program by summer 2026.

The eight selected projects span 26 states and involve leading aircraft manufacturers, operators, and state partners. They include a range of operational concepts, including cargo and logistics networks, and offshore and energy-sector transportation operations, among others.

“Thanks to President Trump, the future of aviation is here — and it’s going to dramatically improve how people and products move,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Congratulations to the great American innovators behind each of these exciting pilot programs. 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.”