Senator Ted Budd Celebrates Launch of Federal eVTOL Pilot Program in North Carolina
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy celebrated North Carolina's inaugural demonstration flight under the USDOT's Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). This initiative marks North Carolina as the fifth location to launch such a program, following Texas. The eIPP, established under President Trump, aims to create extensive real-world testing environments for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), autonomous planes, and drone technology. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina expressed his enthusiasm, highlighting the state's historical connection to aviation and its role in fostering advanced air mobility technologies. The program involves collaborations between Joby Aviation, BETA Technologies, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to test regional flight and medical transport capabilities. Recent test flights included Joby's remotely piloted J208 flying from Dare County Regional Airport to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and BETA's electric ALIA a...