Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it has been selected as a partner for a White House-backed Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
Through the program, Joby said it has the opportunity to begin early operations this year in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Utah, marking a major milestone for the U.S. air taxi industry with the potential to significantly accelerate Joby’s path to commercial service.
The eIPP program, established by Presidential Executive Order, paves the way for Joby to bring its technology directly to U.S. communities ahead of FAA type certification. It is expected to accelerate regulatory coordination by bringing the FAA and DOT together with local authorities to streamline approvals for airspace integration and the development of relevant infrastructure.
“America has set the pace and the standard in aerospace innovation since the Wright Brothers first took to the skies," said Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby, in a statement. “This is how our country has always led — by bringing people together to turn breakthrough technology into real-world progress. From President Trump and Secretary Duffy to the state and local leaders who helped drive these applications forward, this kind of coordination is what will ensure America continues to lead. We’re grateful to our partners at every level who stepped up to make this possible, and we’re excited to see communities witness this next chapter of aviation take flight.”
In addition to its air taxi aircraft, Joby was also selected for applications that include its Superpilot autonomous flight technology platform. Designed to enable highly automated operations over time, Superpilot has the potential to further expand the range of use cases partner states can explore under the program.
Joby is participating in the following programs that have been selected as part of the eIPP:
- Florida: A statewide effort that will include three phases of operations focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response, supported by significant public and private investment.
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Joby will collaborate on multiple operational concepts across New England, including air taxi passenger operations at the Manhattan heliport.
- Texas Department of Transportation: This application will support operations connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston, with air taxi networks expanding from each city to extend regional reach.
- North Carolina Department of Transportation: This application will work with industry partners to establish piloted medical and regional operations across the state while also developing an autonomous flight operation extending into Virginia.
- Utah Department of Transportation: This application covers four states spanning the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Plains of Oklahoma and will test a wide range of next-generation aircraft and operational concepts.
Joby’s first FAA-conforming aircraft for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) is set to fly shortly, marking a major step on the path toward Type Certification. The company regularly flies piloted, full-transition flights - taking off vertically, transitioning to wingborne cruise, and returning to vertical landing - as part of a comprehensive real-world flight test program, demonstrating the operational maturity required to participate in the eIPP program.
Joby recently announced plans to scale production to four aircraft per month in 2027, supported by expanded facilities in Marina, California and Dayton, Ohio, in order to meet unprecedented global demand for its technology.
Electra
Virginia-based Electra has also been selected to participate in the pilot program. The company said it will work with public and private partners on demonstrations including connecting urban and regional destinations in Florida and linking metropolitan centers in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company also supported the submission from the State of Louisiana.
Electra's flagship aircraft uses hybrid-electric propulsion and unique design to safely take off and land in just 150 feet.
Wisk Aero said it will also be working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as part of the program.
As one of the primary private-sector eVTOL partners for the Texas-led proposal, Wisk will help drive the program's operational execution, leveraging its autonomous systems and Gen 6 aircraft, as well as its subsidiary SkyGrid’s Strata system. The eIPP selection is a landmark milestone that allows Wisk to gain invaluable data from flight experience in the U.S. National Airspace, effectively and safely introducing the future of autonomous air travel in Wisk’s primary U.S. launch market.
Wisk Aero
