New Mexico Conducts First Advanced Air Mobility Demonstration Flight Under Federal Program

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that New Mexico has conducted its first demonstration flight under the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The test took place at Albuquerque International Sunport, making New Mexico the sixth location to launch flights under the national initiative.

The demonstration was conducted by the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department in partnership with Reliable Robotics. The flight utilized a remotely piloted hybrid-electric Cessna 208B Caravan airplane to test autonomous cargo delivery capabilities.

According to the USDOT, data gathered from the pilot flights will assist the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in creating new regulations designed to safely integrate autonomous aircraft, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, and drone technologies into the National Airspace System at scale.

Albuquerque is one of eight designees across 28 states selected for the eIPP, an initiative unveiled in March under the administration's broader aviation policy. The pilot projects focus on various sectors, including urban air taxis, regional passenger transport, cargo networks, emergency medical responses, and autonomous flight operations.

Officials confirmed that the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department and other program participants plan to carry out additional test flights through the remainder of the year.

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