The U.S. public-private eVTOL aircraft Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) will be challenging but also provides a key opportunity for advancing electric aviation.
DOT and FAA have selected eight pilot projects across the country to test operations involving eVTOL and other AAM aircraft under the new public-private eIPP.
Joby Aviation said it made substantial certification progress in Q4, as it prepares to begin certification flight testing with its first conforming aircraft.
Several startups came onto the scene in the mid- to late 2010s touting the promise of hydrogen-electric propulsion for zero-emission regional aviation.
While commercial passenger services have yet to materialize, the defense sector is shaping up to be a more immediate market for advanced air mobility companies.
Prague-based hybrid-VTOL startup Zuri is planning a major shift from years of subscale demonstrators to a full-envelope tiltrotor prototype flight campaign in 2026.
Advanced air mobility startups are looking to defense for early revenues, so Electra.aero is forming a dedicated defense unit to pursue potential military uses.
