Electric air taxis get the green light for test flights in Texas

A new federal program to test the feasibility of electric, hybrid-electric, and autonomous aircraft kicks off today in Texas — before the rules governing this new technology have even been finalized.

For the next week, these companies will conduct test flights demonstrating future routes between cities and regional airports, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The aircraft won’t carry any passengers, but regulators will be keen to see how the state’s air traffic control system handles the uptick in flight traffic. The companies, meanwhile, are eager to prove to the federal government that their aircraft deserve to be awarded type certification, which is required before any of them can carry passengers commercially in the US.

But type certification can take years to attain, which led to the White House to create this pilot program allowing these companies to demonstrate their new technology — even before the regulatory process has concluded. Through the eIPP, the companies hope to accelerate their path to market by getting a head start on data collection that will be needed for certification. Data from the program will also be used to “develop new regulations that safely enable this futuristic technology at scale,” the White House said earlier.

The companies say they are thrilled to demonstrate the future of electric and autonomous flight, which they argue will help reduce car traffic in cities and open up new mobility opportunities for consumers.

“I’m incredibly excited by the potential for vertical lift in Texas, a state with the infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships to help lead the next era of American aviation,” JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, said in a statement.

Several of these companies have conducted public test flights before — Joby’s egg-shaped aircraft demonstrated its future route between Lower Manhattan and JFK Airprot earlier this year — but these will be the first official flights under the White House’s new pilot program. Additional tests are being planned in New York, Utah, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, and New Mexico.

Legal in-fighting, however, could muddy the picture for electric aviation. Joby and one of its rivals, Archer, are currently suing each other for stolen trade secrets and corporate espionage. Technology limitations, including battery weight and sensor decisions, could also hamper the rollout.