The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Texas for one of eight pilot projects to test air taxis as part of a new program to integrate advanced air mobility into the national airspace system.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the FAA unveiled the initiative on March 9, according to the agency’s announcement.
The three-year Texas project will be led by the Texas Department of Transportation in partnership with the FAA.
The program will connect cities including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston with rural communities through phased operations that begin at existing airports and later include dedicated vertiports, according to TxDOT.
Testing is scheduled to start with route validation in late 2026, followed by cargo and medical deliveries and eventually passenger flights, according to a Fox 7 Austin report on the announcement.
The Texas effort will involve four industry partners: Joby Aviation, Archer, BETA Technologies and autonomous operator Wisk Aero, the FAA said.
The pilot program aims to gather data that will help shape future federal regulations for safe and efficient advanced air mobility operations, officials stated in the March 9 announcement.
The initiative is part of a broader national selection of projects across 26 states, the FAA said.
TxDOT described the program as an opportunity to expand access to aerial ridesharing, lower-cost cargo transport and improved healthcare reach while prioritizing community input and quieter aircraft designs than traditional helicopters.
No timeline has been set for full commercial passenger service in Texas, according to the state and federal statements.
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