Joby Begins Texas eVTOL Test Flights to Help FAA Shape Air Taxi Rules

Joby Aviation has launched a series of operational test flights in the Dallas-Fort Worth region under a new federal initiative. The flights began this week and will produce data that the Federal Aviation Administration can use to develop safety rules for commercial electric air taxi routes.

The work is part of the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, a Department of Transportation project announced in March 2026. This week Joby is flying between Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and several urban locations. One flight will land at DFW's corporate aviation terminal. Another will circle Fort Worth landmarks to demonstrate low noise. A separate planned route connects the airport to Toyota Motor North America's campus in Plano.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said advanced air mobility vehicles represent the future of aviation and that the Texas demonstrations are critical to advancing that goal. He added that the FAA is using data from test flights in Texas and elsewhere to ensure safe airspace integration.

The campaign builds on earlier airspace research involving the FAA and NASA in North Texas, including a simulation conducted with Joby at NASA's Future Flight Central facility. The current flights are the first under the eIPP.