Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) companies in the United States prepare to begin official certification flight testing with the Federal Aviation Administration. For the intricate and heavily regulated advanced air mobility (AAM) sector to successfully launch, support from the government is essential. In an effort to keep up with China, which has invested significant public funds to back its emerging AAM industry, the White House established the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) via executive order in July 2025. This program is designed to allow American original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to acquire practical experience, test their operating procedures, and help shape future rules and infrastructure standards before formal certification.
The three-year eIPP program, slated to begin in mid-2026, will consist of five separate collaborations between the public and private sectors. Each project will involve an OEM partnering with a state, local, tribal, or territorial (SLTT) government.
