Washington — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced New Mexico’s first demonstration flight under the Department’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The initiative is led by the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department, making New Mexico the sixth location to launch under the program. This follows the initial rollout in North Carolina in late September.
Under Secretary Duffy’s leadership, the Department of Transportation has established one of the nation’s largest real-world environments for testing eVTOLs, autonomous planes, and drone technology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may use data from these pilot projects to develop new regulations that safely enable this technology at scale.
“Thanks to the vision of President Trump, these test flights are bringing the future of flight to the entire world, not just the United States,” said Secretary Duffy. “Modern aviation started in America with the Wright Brothers’ first flight and we’re continuing to bring innovation in aviation with these new-generation aircraft.”
In the week before the announcement, the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department and Reliable Robotics conducted demonstration flights at Albuquerque International Sunport. These tests focused on cargo deliveries using Reliable’s remotely piloted Cessna 208B Caravan airplane.
“Every test flight provides critical data to help build a system that strengthens our nation’s infrastructure and connect communities,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the city’s openness to innovation. “Our city has always been a place where big ideas take flight, and we want to be a city that says yes to new technology and new opportunities,” Keller said. “By putting the Sunport to work as a testing ground for the future of aviation, we’re helping bring new industries to New Mexico, strengthen our regional economy, and show what’s possible when we embrace innovation.”
Manny Manriquez, director of aviation for the City of Albuquerque, highlighted the partnership’s importance. “Our partnership with Reliable Robotics reflects the kind of collaboration we embrace at the Sunport—working with aviation innovators and the FAA to help shape the future of flight,” he said. He noted that the department takes seriously its responsibility to inform the safe integration of emerging technologies into the National Airspace System by providing the data and insights the FAA needs.
Robert Rose, CEO and co-founder of Reliable Robotics, stated that the company’s work with the FAA and the City of Albuquerque is building the roadmap for integrating autonomy into high-density airspaces. This progress clears a major hurdle toward commercial operations and demonstrates how autonomy can benefit national competitiveness.
The eIPP was outlined in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order. The eight selected projects span 28 states and partner with leading aircraft manufacturers and operators. These initiatives cover urban air taxi services, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response operations, autonomous flight technologies, and offshore transportation.
Last year, Secretary Duffy and the FAA launched the nation’s first advanced air mobility strategy, which includes 40 recommendations to support these operations. The City of Albuquerque and other participants plan additional test flights throughout the rest of the year.
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