Electric air taxis get the green light for flight tests in Texas
The FAA has launched a pilot program in Texas to test electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from companies like Joby, Beta, and Wisk. These test flights aim to gather data for future regulations and type certification, even as the formal rules for autonomous air taxis remain under development.
Why it matters
This program represents a significant step toward integrating autonomous electric aviation into public transport systems.
A new federal program to test the feasibility of electric, hybrid-electric, and autonomous aircraft kicks off today in Texas — before the rules governing this new technology have even been finalized.
Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) selected eight state-led projects to serve as some of the first public tests of these new aircraft. The first one kicks off today in Texas, featuring three eVTOL companies: Joby, Beta, and Wisk.
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