FAA eVTOL Pilot Program: 7 Demos Done, Archer Cleared to Start Flying in Los Angeles
eVTOL.Travel Editorial
Photo: Joby Aviation eVTOL aircraft. Image: FAA, from the FAA's eIPP update.
The US government's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is moving from plans to real flights. In an update on its official blog, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says seven demonstrations are already complete, across 8 projects covering 26 states. On November 9, Archer Aviation announced that the FAA has issued its Midnight aircraft a certificate that unlocks piloted flights in Los Angeles.
What the FAA says
| Program | eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) |
| Projects | 8 projects across 26 states |
| Demonstrations done | 7 so far |
| Initial phase | 90 days, finishing in the coming months |
| Goal | Test real air taxi, cargo and medical flights before full certification |
The eIPP lets selected US states and cities fly eVTOL aircraft in real-world settings before the aircraft complete full FAA type certification. The FAA says the lessons from these flights will feed into the rules for regular service.
Archer's Los Angeles milestone
| Aircraft | Archer Midnight, a piloted four-passenger eVTOL |
| New FAA approval | Market Survey Special Airworthiness Certificate |
| What it unlocks | Piloted operations in Los Angeles "in the coming weeks" |
| Base | Midnight has arrived at Hawthorne Airport, Los Angeles |
| Plan | Conventional (runway) flights first, then vertical take-off and landing, then passengers |
| Big target | Air taxi flights around the LA28 Olympic Games |
Archer CEO Adam Goldstein called the certificate "our most important commercialization milestone to date", according to Archer's third-quarter results release. Archer reported Q3 2026 revenue of about $5.1 million and liquidity of about $1.4 billion, and said its deal with Boeing is close to completion.
What this does not mean yet
- No public tickets. These are test and demonstration flights, not paid passenger service.
- Not full certification. A Market Survey certificate is a special approval for demonstrations. Archer still needs full FAA type certification for commercial service.
- Passengers come last. Archer's own plan puts passenger flights after runway and vertical flight testing in Los Angeles.
For the full picture of which aircraft are certified where, see our explainer: Is any eVTOL certified yet?
Why it matters for travelers
The US is now testing eVTOLs in real cities, with Los Angeles likely to see piloted Midnight flights before the end of 2026. If the eIPP demonstrations go well, the first US air taxi rides for paying passengers could follow, with LA28 as the headline target.
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Sources: FAA, Cleared for Takeoff blog: FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program · Archer Aviation, Q3 2026 results, Nov 9, 2026 · Stocktwits, Nov 2026
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Sources: Information sourced from official company announcements, FAA publications, SEC filings, and verified industry reports. For corrections, contact us.
Written by
eVTOL.Travel Editorial
Contributor at eVTOL.Travel — covering electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, vertiports, and the launch of urban air mobility worldwide.
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