Archive photo: VanderWolf Images / Shutterstock.com Texas has launched its first demonstrations under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, bringing electric aircraft and air taxi technology into real-world testing in the state.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy visited Texas to mark the demonstrations at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The event featured BETA Technologies’ ALIA electric aircraft and Joby Aviation’s S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Texas is the sixth location to launch under the federal pilot program, which is designed to test how next-generation aircraft could operate safely alongside existing aviation infrastructure. The FAA will use data collected from the projects to help develop regulations for advanced air mobility operations.
The Texas project brings together BETA, Joby and the Texas Department of Transportation. The partners are developing plans for regional air taxi operations connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and eventually Houston.
The next stage of testing is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026, when Joby’s aircraft will make a round trip between Fort Worth Alliance Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The flight will allow the participants to test operations between two major airports, while TxDOT and other eIPP partners plan further demonstrations through the end of the year.
“Under President Trump, we are unlocking the future of flight and empowering innovators to build and test these exciting aircraft here in the U.S.,” Duffy said. “Today marks another critical step in our work to reshape how people and products move faster and more efficiently.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the Texas demonstrations would provide data needed to understand how advanced air mobility aircraft can be integrated safely into the national airspace.
The Department of Transportation launched the eIPP to create real-world testing opportunities for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, air taxis, and other advanced aviation technologies. Eight projects were selected in March, covering 26 states and involving aircraft manufacturers, operators and government partners.
The projects cover a range of potential uses, including urban air taxis, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics, emergency medical operations and autonomous flight.
In Texas, BETA said its aircraft could eventually be used to move cargo and medical supplies, support disaster response and serve offshore operations. Joby is focused on demonstrating electric vertical flight and developing the infrastructure needed for future passenger services.
The program is intended not only to test aircraft, but also to provide regulators with practical information about how these vehicles operate outside controlled demonstrations. The FAA says the resulting data will help inform future procedures, policies and regulations for advanced air mobility.
As more demonstrations take place, federal officials and industry partners will be watching how the aircraft perform, how infrastructure requirements develop and what regulatory framework will be needed before advanced air mobility can become a regular part of the U.S. aviation network.