Louisiana Conducts First Uncrewed eVTOL Test Flight Under FAA Pilot Program, State Funding Remains Absent
Louisiana has become the tenth state, and the first in the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, to conduct an uncrewed aircraft test flight. In late August 2026, Elroy Air performed a week of autonomous, uncrewed Chaparral cargo flights from Houma-Terrebonne Airport under air traffic control. The FAA announced these as the first remotely piloted aircraft test flights under the national program, following earlier crewed flights in Virginia. The cargo transported included medical supplies, spare parts, food, and water for offshore operations. The FAA's pilot program now spans four states—Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas—and includes MSU, Teros, BETA, and Elroy Air as partners. Despite the state having an Advanced Aeronautics Director and a Vertiport Development Fund established in 2024, the fund has not received any appropriations. Furthermore, the state's announcement of its federal selection explicitly stated that the federal government would not provide funding through this program.
