WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration announced that Elroy and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development conducted a hybrid-electric demonstration flight to test cargo deliveries using remotely piloted aircraft at Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana. This event marks the first remotely piloted aircraft test flight under the Federal Aviation Administration’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft Integration Pilot Program.
The demonstration supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s goal to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into the National Airspace System. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the data gathered will help turn these concepts from trial to deployment. He noted that these test flights demonstrate how new aircraft can expand cargo delivery options for communities nationwide and improve logistics infrastructure.
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Glenn Ledet highlighted the state’s role in shaping the next chapter of American aviation. He expressed gratitude for the Federal Aviation Administration’s confidence in Louisiana and the opportunities this work creates for local industries and workforce.
Andrew Clare, CEO of Elroy Air, described the Chaparral aircraft as a highly automated hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing system. It is designed to move heavy cargo between non-traditional sites, including offshore energy platforms and disaster response zones. Clare emphasized that the Integration Pilot Program provides a collaborative path for bringing uncrewed, autonomous cargo aircraft into the National Airspace System.
The Integration Pilot Program was outlined in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order. It establishes one of the nation’s largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft. In March 2026, the Department of Transportation selected eight projects across 26 states to participate. The FAA says it will use what it learns from these demonstrations to identify gaps and improve procedures. Additional test flights are planned throughout the rest of the year by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and other participants.
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