The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration has selected eight proposals as part of an electric vertical takeoff and landing pilot program, the agencies announced Monday.
Operations of these eVTOL aircraft could begin as soon as summer 2026, according to DOT.
The eight projects span 26 states with six types of operations including urban air taxi services and regional passenger transportation. Recipients of the approved projects include eVTOL manufacturers Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, which in September 2025 announced their participation in the FAA initiative to hasten eVTOL development.
Several airlines have invested in the development of eVTOL aircraft, including United Airlines in Archer and Delta Air Lines in Joby.
Archer said it would work with the transportation departments for Texas, Florida, and New York and New Jersey to prepare for flights of its Midnight aircraft under the pilot program.
Joby has approval to begin operations later this year in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Utah, according to the company.
"These partnerships will help us better understand how to safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System," FAA deputy administrator Chris Rocheleau said in a statement. "The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe advanced air mobility operations."