The FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is now moving from announcement to action. Eight selected projects involving Archer, Joby, Beta Technologies, Wisk, and other partners are scheduled to begin limited operations across 26 states this summer, with the first public flights expected as early as late June or early July 2026.
In Texas, regional air taxi services connecting Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are targeted to start in July 2026, with initial flights operating between existing heliports and vertiports in those cities. Expansion toward Houston is planned for later in the summer or early fall, depending on operational data from the first routes. Archer, Joby, Beta, and Wisk are all participating in this project.
New York City is also expected to see early activity. Urban air taxi demonstrations around the Manhattan heliport are scheduled to begin in July 2026, initially focused on short flights that test integration with existing helicopter operations and busy airspace procedures.
In the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Oklahoma region, a multi-state project will begin testing a mix of passenger and cargo eVTOL operations starting in mid-to-late summer 2026. These flights will cover more varied terrain and weather conditions than the urban-focused projects, with initial operations likely beginning in August.
North Carolina’s medical and regional transport project is expected to launch piloted eVTOL flights for emergency medical services in July or August 2026, with autonomous flight testing extending into Virginia planned for later in the summer.
The overall eIPP framework runs for three years once the first project becomes operational. While the exact start date for each route will depend on final safety reviews and local approvals, the FAA has stated that the American public should begin seeing real eVTOL operations under these programs by summer 2026, with several projects aiming to have their first flights before the end of July.
These early operations will be limited in scope, small numbers of flights per day, restricted routes, and close monitoring by the FAA. They are designed to gather real-world data on safety, community acceptance, and integration with existing air traffic systems ahead of wider commercial service. For now, the focus is on proving that electric air taxis can operate safely and reliably in diverse environments across the country, starting with these initial summer flights in Texas, New York, the Pacific Northwest, and other participating states.