The Federal Aviation Administration's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) has selected eight projects to test advanced air mobility operations, but contrary to popular belief, the first commercial uses will not be passenger air taxis over Manhattan. Instead, the program emphasizes medical supply delivery, freight transport, and emergency services, according to Lisa Wright, founder and CEO of Landings, who attended a recent Port Authority of New York and New Jersey meeting. "The reality is, first use cases are medical and logistics, and freight," Wright said. "There’s a lot more conversation around drones and heavy drones and shipping logistics and emergency services than I had expected, given the headline."
The selected projects include state and regional participants such as the Florida Department of Transportation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Manufacturers involved are Archer, Beta, Joby, Electra, Wisk, Ampaire, Elroy Air, and Reliable Robotics. This mix indicates a broader scope than passenger service alone, with cargo and automation-focused companies like Elroy Air and Reliable Robotics participating.
Beta Technologies stands out by appearing in seven of the eight projects. Wright attributes this to Beta's extensive work in electrification, including installing over 40 chargers at regional airports. "Beta has done a great job of being involved on many levels of electrification," she said. "They’ve installed over 40 chargers at regional airports in many of these states now, so they’re ahead on the charging part." She also notes Beta's conventional fixed-wing electric aircraft has logged more miles than any other electric aircraft in the group, and its design allows use of existing runways, unlike vertical takeoff aircraft that require vertiports still in planning. Beta also unveiled a heavy drone for government and military customers at the Farnborough International Airshow. Based in Vermont, Beta's non-urban roots may influence its focus on diverse use cases, Wright suggests.
Other manufacturers like Joby are concentrating on urban passenger service, but both approaches serve real markets on different timelines. The Port Authority discussion highlighted ongoing drone services launching from Brooklyn and New Jersey, while North Carolina uses Pivotal aircraft for emergency responder services under a lighter certification path. These operations have distinct infrastructure needs, requiring charging at regional airports, rural hubs, and emergency facilities rather than downtown rooftops. Their schedules follow deliveries and emergency calls, not commuter peaks.
For communities outside major metros, this sequence matters. Rural regions often lack the passenger density for frequent air taxi routes but have critical needs for medical access, freight, and emergency response over long distances. Wright advocates for infrastructure designed around use cases rather than aircraft models, allowing sites to serve multiple aircraft types and uses. This flexibility prevents early cargo and medical flights from locking a site into a single purpose. While passenger air taxis remain the most visible symbol of the industry, the program's first results will likely be measured by whether medical supplies, freight, and emergency teams move faster than before.
