Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces New Mexico’s First Advanced Air Mobility Demonstration Flight Under eVTOL Integration Program
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced New Mexico’s first demonstration flight under the USDOT’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Led by the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department, New Mexico is the sixth location to launch under the Department’s initiative, following North Carolina in late September.
Under Secretary Duffy, the USDOT has created one of the nation’s largest real-world environments for testing eVTOLs, autonomous planes, and drone technology.
The first-of-its-kind initiative has the potential to create jobs, connect communities, and strengthen American leadership in aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may use data from the pilot projects to develop new regulations that safely enable this futuristic technology at scale.
“Thanks to the vision of President Trump, these test flights are bringing the future of flight to the entire world, not just the United States.” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Modern aviation started in America with the Wright Brothers first flight and we’re continuing to bring innovation in aviation with these new-generation aircraft.”
Last week, the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department and Reliable Robotics conducted a hybrid-electric demonstration flight at Albuquerque International Sunport to test cargo deliveries using Reliable’ s remotely piloted Cessna 208B Caravan airplane.
“These demonstrations in Albuquerque help ensure we’re getting things done safely and efficiently.” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Every test flight provides critical data to help build a system that strengthens our nation’s infrastructure and connect communities.”
“Our city has always been a place where big ideas take flight, and we want to be a city that says yes to new technology and new opportunities,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “By putting the Sunport to work as a testing ground for the future of aviation, we’re helping bring new industries to New Mexico, strengthen our regional economy, and show what’s possible when we embrace innovation.”
“Our partnership with Reliable Robotics reflects the kind of collaboration we embrace at the Sunport—working with aviation innovators and the FAA to help shape the future of flight. It is an honor to be one of just eight designees nationwide participating in the FAA’s eIPP,” said Manny Manriquez, director of aviation for the City of Albuquerque. “With a focus on advancing autonomous aircraft operations, we take seriously our responsibility to help inform the safe integration of these emerging technologies into the National Airspace System by providing the data and insights the FAA needs to develop appropriate policies and requirements for this evolving industry”
“Reliable’s work with the FAA and the City of Albuquerque is building the roadmap for integrating autonomy into high-density airspaces, clearing a major hurdle toward commercial operations,” said Robert Rose, CEO and co-founder, Reliable Robotics. “We’re excited by this significant milestone, and to show how autonomy can both benefit national competitiveness and bring value to everyday Americans."
The City of Albuquerque Aviation Department and other eIPP participants are planning additional test flights throughout the rest of the year.
In March, Secretary Duffy unveiled the eIPP program to begin testing advanced air mobility vehicles and their real-world applications. The eight selected projects span 28 states and partner with leading aircraft manufacturers, operators, and state partners, including:
- Urban air taxi services
- Regional passenger transportation (including short Takeoff and Landing aircraft)
- Cargo and logistics networks
- Emergency medical response operations
- Autonomous flight technologies
- Offshore and energy-sector transportation
The eIPP is a first-of-its-kind initiative outlined in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order. It creates one of the nation’s largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft with the potential to create jobs, connect communities, and strengthen American leadership in aviation.
In addition to offering the American people an exciting window into the future of aviation, data from the pilot projects will be used by the FAA to develop new regulations that safely enable this futuristic technology at scale.
Last year, Secretary Duffy and the FAA launched the nation’s first-ever advanced air mobility (AAM) strategy to unlock the future of flight. The Strategy and accompanying action plan outline 40 recommendations to safely and efficiently support AAM operations.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
