"Flying cars" will start flights in the USA as early as summer 2026 0 11

New types of aircraft, a kind of "flying cars" capable of taking off and landing in limited spaces like helicopters but functioning like airplanes, will begin operations in the USA as early as June 2026. This was announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, as reported by Focus citing WIRED.

"Flying cars" will appear in the airspace of eight regions in the USA, including New York City. The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the start of a three-year pilot program, during which new aircraft will transport people and cargo across the country even before they receive full certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Companies developing these aircraft claim they are cheaper, quieter, and emit fewer harmful substances into the air than helicopters or airplanes. The new project will involve electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft. They require little space for operation and can take off and land outside traditional airports and closer to people's homes and workplaces. Developers of these vehicles believe that in the near future, ordinary people will be able to travel between neighboring cities in just a few minutes.

The pilot project involves Archer Aviation, the developer of an electric air taxi called Midnight, which can carry up to 4 passengers for 60-90 minutes. Also participating in the project are electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies, air taxi producer Joby Aviation, and Electra, which is building a hybrid electric STOL. All four companies have already completed test flights in the USA.

The Trump administration first expressed its support for new aviation technologies in June last year when the U.S. president signed an executive order aimed at reducing "bureaucracy" around "flying cars" and supersonic aircraft in the USA. The plan presented by the Biden administration in 2023 included the deployment of air taxis by 2028, just in time for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Since eVTOL is a new technology, companies involved in their production have taken years to obtain full certification from the government. New aircraft require new rules and safety standards and must go through several stages of certification before they can begin transporting passengers. None of the companies participating in the pilot program has completed the full certification process from the Federal Aviation Administration.

At the same time, the Chinese government has granted local company EHang permission to operate autonomous eVTOLs. The company claims it will start conducting flights in several Chinese cities this year. Dubai plans to begin providing eVTOL air taxi services in partnership with Joby Aviation also this year.