Perspectives on the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP)

We spoke with members of our team to understand eIPP’s impact on our industry.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program is designed to accelerate electric aviation safely and reliably across the United States. At BETA, we see the eIPP as a critical step for turning early electric aviation demonstrations into scalable operations for our customers. Below are perspectives from across our team, including Kristen Costello (Government and Regulatory Affairs), Thea Wurzburg (State Government Affairs), Nate Ward (Charge Team) and Ryan Barta (Commercial Team) on the importance of the eIPP and how BETA expects to deliver alongside our partners, if selected.

What is the eIPP? What is the purpose?

Kristen: The eIPP stands for “eVTOL Integration Pilot Program,” which is a result of President Trump’s Executive Order titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” The eIPP will accelerate the safe integration of eVTOL and other Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft into the national airspace system (NAS), supporting continued global leadership in aviation and bringing the benefits of this technology to communities across the country. It’s also directly aligned with the AAM National Strategy, released by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December of last year to provide a long-term plan to integrate AAM into the NAS, emphasizing the importance of expanding access to rural communities, all supported with early infrastructure planning and coordination.   

“BETA has spent years working to create the future of aviation, designing, building, and flying aircraft and deploying infrastructure that can deliver real, immediate benefits for communities across the United States. With many thousands of flight hours already logged in our Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft, the eIPP represents a critical opportunity to move from demonstration to domestic operations as early as next summer. This program is a major signal of the FAA and Administration’s commitment to American aviation leadership and a critical unlock to accelerate real-world, revenue-generating missions at meaningful scale.” 
– Kyle Clark, BETA Co-Founder and CEO

What role will programs like eIPP play in scaling electric aviation?

Kristen: The eIPP reduces barriers to bring BETA’s aircraft and infrastructure to the market faster. This is more than just a demonstration — this program will enable real-world operations that provide key learnings before full-scale deployment by allowing trusted operators to safely use innovative technology. For BETA, it means deploying our technology today while continuing to work hand-in-hand with the FAA on certification of these new aviation technologies. By leveraging American innovation and industry partnership, the U.S. will be well positioned to continue our global leadership in aerospace.

What existing BETA capabilities position us well to participate in eIPP?

Kristen: BETA’s mission is to unlock rural access, focusing first on cargo and medical logistics to bring the life-enhancing benefits of this technology to everyday Americans, and that’s exactly what the DOT and FAA are eager to see as part of the eIPP.

Our electric conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft is purpose-built to integrate seamlessly into the NAS and existing airport infrastructure, where we have already executed missions with both military and customer partners (accumulating over 100,000 nautical miles in the meantime). The operational insights gained from these missions directly inform the next phase of our market entry strategy for our vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

What does success look like for the customers/operators that we are participating with?

Ryan: BETA aircraft operating safely, routinely, and commercially in the NAS will deliver real value to operators and, as a result, communities.  

BETA’s real-world flying has included demos alongside strategic partners, such as those in Norway and New Zealand.
 
The eIPP will bring that to the next level. Our strategy is designed as an OEM-plus-Operator model, enabling the opportunity for our partners with experienced FAA Part 135 operations with decades of proven safety performance to launch commercially meaningful cargo, medical, and then passenger operations in a controlled, phased and collaborative setting here in the U.S. beginning in 2026, upon selection.

By design, this model accelerates learning through continuous feedback and shared accountability that will inform a safer and continuously improving aircraft.  

Success will mean conducting safe, routine commercial cargo and medical operations in the NAS with clean, quiet, and cost-effective electric aircraft. BETA succeeds when our customers and operators succeed.