VAI applauds administration and USDOT for advancing AAM integration Pilot projects will guide future regulatory and operational frameworks. Atlanta (Mar. 9, 2026) – Vertical Aviation International (VAI) commends the Trump administration and the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for furthering the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), a national effort to accelerate the safe integration of AAM aircraft into the National Airspace System. The eIPP was established following the president’s executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate the deployment of emerging aviation technologies and strengthen American leadership in aerospace innovation. The program creates public–private partnerships between state and local governments and private-sector companies to test and evaluate new operational models for eVTOL aircraft and other AAM platforms. VAI welcomed the announcement that USDOT has selected eight pilot projects, exceeding the minimum number originally required under the executive order. “Vertical aviation is entering a new phase of innovation, and programs like the eIPP help ensure that progress occurs within a disciplined, safety-focused framework,” says François Lassale, president and CEO of VAI. “We appreciate the leadership of the administration and [Transportation] Secretary [Sean] Duffy in moving quickly to establish these pilot partnerships and advance the safe integration of new aircraft and operational models.” The program is designed to generate real-world operational data that will inform future FAA regulations, certification pathways, and airspace integration strategies. Projects are expected to examine a range of use cases, including passenger air taxi services, cargo and logistics operations, regional connectivity, and emergency response missions. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford will expand on this announcement at the VERTICON Liftoff event, Mar. 10, at 8:00 am at the Georgia World Congress Center. VAI noted that the USDOT and the FAA moved swiftly to implement the program and exceeded the timeline set by the president’s executive order. “Programs like this help the aviation community move from concept to operational reality,” Lassale adds. “By bringing together local governments, industry innovators, and federal regulators, the eIPP will produce practical lessons that support safe, scalable advanced air mobility operations across the United States.” The three-year program will operate through partnerships between the FAA and selected state, local, tribal, or territorial governments working with US-based aviation companies. Data and insights generated through the pilot projects will help guide future regulatory and operational frameworks for advanced air mobility nationwide.
