Air taxis take off as White House reveals fast-track eVTOL plan: Joby, Archer to participate
September 12, 2025
The United States has taken a major step toward making air taxis (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs) a regular part of its transportation network.
On 12 September, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under a new executive push from President Donald Trump, unveiled a new pilot initiative designed to allow mature eVTOL designs to begin operations prior to full type certification.
“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,” said US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“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 travelling public and products move.”
The new pilot scheme is officially called the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), and will form partnerships to develop the frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operation.
It is part of the broader policy framework established under the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” Executive Order issued in June, which, among other things, directed the DOT and FAA to create mechanisms to accelerate the deployment of advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies like eVTOLs.
eIPP: The programme to fast-track air taxis
The aim of the programme is to select at least five pilot projects through public-private partnerships involving state, local, tribal or territorial governments, and private companies.
These will serve as “pre-certification operating environments” where eVTOL aircraft can perform real use-cases in selected markets, ahead of full FAA type-certification.
The FAA announcement states, “Participants will use piloted, optionally piloted, or unmanned AAM aircraft that will generally be over 1,320 lbs. and may be capable of carrying passengers. “
The FAA asks that participants also include technologies enabling safe integration of these aircraft into the national airspace system.
The programme will run for three years after the first project becomes operational (unless extended) and is intended to generate operational, safety, regulatory, and community data that will inform eventual full-scale deployment.
Joby and Archer to participate in White House eVTOL programme
Joby Aviation has announced its participation in the eIPP. The company claims to have one of the most mature eVTOL aircraft in development, with over 40,000 miles of test flights, nearly 600 flights in 2025, and recent milestones such as flying between two public airports.
“President Trump has long recognised the significance of America’s leadership in the next era of aviation, and this initiative ensures our nation’s leadership will continue,” said Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby.
“We’ve spent more than 15 years building the aircraft technology and operational capabilities that are defining advanced aerial mobility, and we’re ready to bring our services to communities. We look forward to demonstrating our aircraft’s maturity and delivering early operations in cities and states nationwide.”
Rival eVTOL developer Archer Aviation is also planning to participate, proposing trial operations for its Midnight aircraft. Key priorities include ensuring safety, quiet operation, scalability, and winning community support.
“We’ll demonstrate that air taxis can operate safely and quietly,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO. “These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations in the US and beyond.”
Archer says it is exploring pathways to working with US airlines, specifically naming United Airlines as a carrier of choice. United invested in Archer four years ago and has already worked with the company on a New York air taxi network.
