The Federal Aviation Administration has officially established the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), a first-of-its-kind initiative that will allow state, local, and tribal governments to run real-world flight testing programs in partnership with private AAM companies. The program represents the most direct pathway yet for rural communities to participate in shaping the future of electric aviation.
Published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2025, the program invites state, local, and tribal (SLTT) governments to submit proposals for pilot projects that will test eVTOL and other advanced air mobility aircraft in their airspace. The original proposal deadline was December 11, 2025, but the FAA extended it to January 2, 2026.
How the Program Works
The eIPP is a public-private partnership model. Government entities apply as lead sponsors, then partner with AAM companies that have aircraft in the type certification process. Selected projects will:
- Conduct real-world flight operations with eVTOL and other AAM aircraft
- Generate operational data the FAA will use to develop permanent regulations
- Test integration of new aircraft into existing airspace alongside conventional aviation
- Explore use cases including passenger service, cargo delivery, medical transport, and autonomous operations
The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, may expand the program to include other advanced aviation aircraft beyond eVTOL – including eSTOL, eCTOL, and hybrid hydrogen aircraft.
The FAA expects to select at least five pilot projects by March 2026, with operations beginning within 90 days of selection. That puts the first flights as early as summer 2026.
What Proposals Need
Based on the program announcement, successful proposals will demonstrate:
- At least one U.S.-based private sector partner with demonstrated eVTOL or AAM experience and aircraft in the type certification process
- A clear operational concept with breadth across multiple use cases
- Potential to generate data with regulatory value
- Strong partnerships across industry, academic, and government stakeholders
- Community engagement and support
Why Rural Communities Should Act
The eIPP is not limited to urban areas. In fact, rural and regional use cases are explicitly relevant to the program’s goals:
Medical transport. Rural emergency medical response is one of the strongest use cases for AAM. Proposals that include organ transport, medical supply delivery, or emergency patient transfer between rural facilities and urban medical centers align directly with program objectives.
Regional connectivity. Projects modeled on Essential Air Service – connecting small communities that lack scheduled airline service – address a documented national need and offer clear regulatory value.
Cargo and logistics. Agricultural supply chains, cold-chain logistics, and parts delivery for rural industries are all viable operational concepts for eIPP proposals.
Autonomous operations. Rural airspace offers lower traffic density and simpler operational environments for testing autonomous flight – a key program objective.
Existing infrastructure. Rural airports and airfields that are currently underutilized become strategic assets in an eIPP proposal. They offer available airspace, willing communities, and minimal conflict with existing operations.
How to Get Involved
Rural county governments, state DOTs, tribal authorities, and airport authorities can all serve as SLTT lead sponsors. The key steps:
- Identify private sector partners with aircraft in the certification process (Joby, Archer, Beta, Electra, Reliable Robotics, and others are actively seeking government partners)
- Define operational concepts that address local transportation gaps
- Engage community stakeholders early – public support strengthens proposals
- Coordinate with state aviation offices, which may be assembling multi-county or statewide proposals
- Submit proposals through sam.gov per the solicitation requirements
The Bottom Line
The eIPP is not a distant policy exercise. It is a near-term program with flights starting in months. Rural communities that apply now have a real chance to be among the first in the country to host advanced air mobility operations – and to shape the permanent rules that govern them.
The eIPP was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2025. Full solicitation details are available at sam.gov.
