Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Air taxi testing heading to Austin Test ights for electric aviation services like air taxis will soon be taking o across the state, including in Austin, following the Texas Department of Transportation’s selection for a Federal Aviation Administration pilot program this month. The big picture Under an executive order issued last year by President Donald Trump, the FAA is moving to advance aviation systems including unmanned drones and electric vertical takeo and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft. Expanded eVTOL operations could include local air taxi service, regional passenger and cargo trans- portation, emergency medical response, and more. The project Under the FAA pilot, TxDOT is coordinating with
Archer’s Midnight electric air taxi will be part of the TxDOT pilot program.
Wisk Aero’s aircraft and autonomous systems will be used in the TxDOT pilot program.
COURTESY WISK AERO
COURTESY ARCHER
four aviation companies: Archer, BETA Technolo- gies, Joby Aviation and Wisk Aero. The partnership will see eVTOL air taxi ights and other services launch between Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston—known as the Texas Triangle—as well as rural communities around that area. The transportation department didn’t identify speci c communities outside the major cities. Only existing infrastructure will be used initially, according to TxDOT spokesperson Adam Hammons, and the project will also consider future needs for the new aviation technology.
A closer look TxDOT’s program will have a footprint in Austin, but city o cials had separately applied to the FAA pilot initiative last year after general planning for local eVTOL service began. The city’s own eVTOL pilot proposal development was spearheaded by Austin-based LIFT Aircraft and wasn’t among the federal agency’s nal selections. During a brie ng to City Council last fall, Assistant City Manager Mike Rogers noted Austin will need to plan for the local impact of eVTOL operations, including zoning, infrastructure, and regulatory coordination with state and federal governments.
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