The White House has launched a federal initiative to accelerate the introduction of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in US cities, with Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation among the first manufacturers to confirm their participation.
The Electric Vertical and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), detailed in the Federal Register on September 12, 2025, stems from President Trump’s June executive order titled Unleashing American Drone Dominance. The Department of Transportation and the FAA will oversee at least five pilot projects, pairing aircraft developers with airlines, municipalities and state governments to test advanced air mobility operations in real-world environments.
According to Archer, it plans to use its Midnight aircraft in the program, working alongside airline partners and city governments. CEO Adam Goldstein called the initiative “a landmark moment for our industry and our country,” claiming early flights will show that air taxis can operate “safely and quietly” while helping establish US leadership in advanced aviation.
United Airlines, which invested in Archer in 2021, welcomed the move. Executive Vice President and CFO, Mike Leskinen said United saw from the start that electric air taxis could “redefine how we move our passengers in and around the cities they are departing and arriving at every day,” and that the new program brings that vision closer to reality.
Joby Aviation, which has logged more than 40,000 miles of flight testing and expanded manufacturing in California and Ohio, has indicated its readiness to demonstrate aircraft under the eIPP. Chief policy officer Greg Bowles said the company has spent “more than 15 years building the aircraft technology and operational capabilities that are defining advanced aerial mobility” and is prepared to “bring our services to communities” through early operations in participating states and cities.
US officials said the pilot projects are designed to allow limited operations before full FAA type certification, giving regulators and industry partners data on safety, performance, and public acceptance. The lessons will help regulators to create certification standards and policies for integrating eVTOLs into the national airspace.
While questions remain about infrastructure, costs and market demand, the participation of Archer and Joby gives the White House program immediate credibility. With two of the sector’s leading manufacturers engaged, the effort will provide the clearest test yet of whether eVTOLs can move from concept to practical service in the years ahead.
