Air Taxis Edge Closer To Everyday Travel!

FAA’s eIPP enables early electric aircraft trials as Joby and Archer prepare for testing and cities ready new infrastructure

15 Sep 2025

The US has taken a further step towards commercial electric air taxis after the Federal Aviation Administration introduced a national pilot scheme allowing early, supervised trials of battery-powered aircraft.

The Electric Aircraft Pilot Program, known as eIPP, will let selected cities work with developers to run limited operations before full certification. The FAA said the initiative would shift electric aviation from “conceptual planning to measurable real world performance”, emphasising its focus on data gathered under normal urban conditions.

Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are the first participants. Both groups plan to use the trials to demonstrate that electric aircraft can complete routine flights with low noise and minimal disruption to surrounding communities. The programme is expected to provide developers with operational data that has so far been difficult to obtain outside controlled test sites.

City involvement is central to the scheme. Municipalities will need to prepare charging infrastructure, establish safe flight paths and co-ordinate with airports and local utilities. Officials view the programme as a chance to influence the emerging national framework for electric aviation, while investors see it as another sign that the route to commercial deployment is becoming clearer.

Technical and regulatory hurdles remain. Battery limits continue to restrict range, and analysts warn that community acceptance will depend on noise performance and the reliability of early flights. One aviation analyst said progress would rely on “true operational readiness rather than ambition alone”.

Even so, federal support and rising interest in low-emission transport are adding momentum to the sector. As eIPP is rolled out, electric air taxis could begin appearing in selected US cities, offering an early indication of how short-range travel may develop. The results of these trials are likely to influence infrastructure planning and future investment across the industry.