Texas to test eVTOL air taxi network across major cities

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted Texas as one of eight proposals to partake in an innovative pilot program advancing the deployment of cutting-edge air taxi transportation technologies. 

The Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated to safely integrating next-generation Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into national airspace. The program will create real-world testing environments providing critical data to understand operational viability and guide the development of new safety regulations. 

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will participate by providing regional eVTOL test flights between the state’s largest urban hubs – Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston – and rural communities. These air taxi networks will expand from each area, broadening transportation availability and reach. 

The department plans to launch the pilot project in phases over the next few years. The first phase will lay the foundation for the rest of the program, performing tests and validating appropriate routes in advance. The bulk of the work will consist of using passenger-less traditional aircraft to ensure safety and reliability before implementing new technologies. 

The next phases will test for non-passenger transportation needs. These include transporting critical medical supplies or organs between rural facilities and urban medical centers in Austin and San Antonio, targeting medical and cargo logistics and analyzing their viability and efficacy in securing fast, reliable transport. 

Air taxi transit with passengers will take place during the final phases, connecting the “Texas Triangle.” While TxDOT’s ambitions start with covering the major cities, it anticipates connecting the regional system with other states to form a national air taxi network. 

Photo by Hyundai Motor Group from Pexels