Pilot Program Follows Admin EO To Unleash Drone Dominance

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy announced a new pilot program in the FAA that aims to accelerate the deployment of AAM, or advanced air mobility vehicles. The new technologies are full of potential to transform aviation, expand connectivity in rural America, reduce road congestion in urban areas, and enhancing medical and emergency transport services.

The pilot program is known as the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Its establishment is in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to unleash American drone dominance, and the program will develop public-private partnerships with State and local governments and private sector companies to develop frameworks and regulations to enable safe operations.

Secretary Duffy said, "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.

"That means more high-paying manufacturing jobs and economic opportunity. By safely testing the deployment of these futuristic air taxis and other AAM vehicles, we can fundamentally improve how the traveling public and products move."

Bryan Bedford, FAA Administrator, said, "This pilot program gives us another opportunity to advance the Administration’s plan to accelerate safe eVTOL and advanced air mobility operations across the United States. We will take the lessons learned from these projects to enable safe, scalable AAM operations nationwide."

The eIPP will have at least five pilot projects that will run for three years after the first one becomes operational. As it now stands, those pilot projects include:

• Short-range air taxis
• Longer-range, fixed wing flights
• Cargo
• Logistics and supply serving emergency management, medical transport, or offshore energy facilities
• Increasing Automation Safety

Applicants for the program must be a State, local, tribal, or territorial government with a U.S-based private sector partner(s).

FMI:  www.faa.gov/