Overview
- The DOT and FAA named eight public-sector-led projects to trial advanced air mobility operations and gather data for future regulation.
- Selected leads include the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the city of Albuquerque, and the transportation departments of Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana.
- Industry partners span Archer, Joby, BETA Technologies, Electra, Wisk, Ampaire, Elroy Air, and Reliable Robotics.
- Use cases to be tested include urban air taxis, regional passenger routes, cargo and logistics, emergency medical response, autonomous technologies, and offshore energy transport.
- Officials stress the program is not a certification shortcut, requiring participating aircraft to already be in the FAA type‑certification process while providing operational data to shape standards.