White House Initiates eIPP Program to Fast-Track Deployment of eVTOLs & AAM Vehicles; Archer & Joby Announce Participation

(Washington, D.C.) United States Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced today the roll-out of the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) – which was established by President Trump’s June 2025 executive order, ‘Unleashing Drone Dominance;’ both Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) and Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) have announced plans to participate.

Image of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s seal courtesy of the FAA.

The pilot program, known as the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), will form public-private partnerships with State and local government entities and private sector companies to develop new frameworks and regulations for enabling safe operations, per today’s announcement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Today’s announcement, which explains that the FAA is currently seeking program participants from state, local, tribal or territorial governments with a U.S.-based private sector partner or partners – further explains that the eIPP will include at least five pilot projects and will run for three years after the first project becomes operational.

As per the announcement, “envisioned eIPP operations include piloted and unmanned approaches to: 

• Short-range air taxis 
• Longer-range, fixed wing flights  
• Cargo 
• Logistics and supply serving emergency management, medical transport or off-shore energy facilities 
• Increasing automation safety”

"The next great technological revolution in aviation is here," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "The United States will lead the way, and doing so will cement America’s status as a global leader in transportation innovation. 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 traveling public and products move." 

Per today’s press release from Joby, which announces the company’s plans to participate in the eIPP and refers to the news as “a critical step in preparing for scaled commercial service,” President Trump’s recent Executive Order (EO) directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FAA to ensure that mature eVTOL aircraft can demonstrate eVTOL use cases – such as passenger transportation, cargo delivery and emergency response – ahead of achieving type certification.

Image of Joby Aviation’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle landing at Monterey Airport last month (August 2025), courtesy of Joby Aviation.

Per Joby, the eIPP requires participating partners to have a high level of maturity in aircraft capabilities and a degree of readiness that facilitates operations from the time that community projects are chosen.

Joby is already working in close collaborations with state and local governments, including those in Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York and California, according to the company.

Archer Aviation announced that it is aiming to participate in the eIPP alongside U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, and interested cities.

As explained in today’s press release from Archer, the eIPP trials are expected to focus on demonstrating that eVTOL operations are safe, quiet and scalable—key factors in building community trust and support for adoption of this new technology.

Image of Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), courtesy of Archer Aviation.

“This is a landmark moment for our industry and our country,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO. “We have an Administration that is prioritizing the integration of eVTOL operations in U.S. cities ahead of full certification in a pragmatic way. We’ll demonstrate that air taxis can operate safely and quietly. These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations in the U.S. and beyond.”

Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby, said: “President Trump has long recognized the significance of America’s leadership in the next era of aviation and this initiative ensures our nation’s leadership will continue. 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.”

Those parties interested in participating in the eIPP have been invited by the FAA to apply via the application at this link.