North Carolina Becomes Fifth State in USDOT Advanced Air Mobility Pilot Program as Joby and BETA Complete Test Flights

North Carolina has become the fifth location to launch under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, following Texas earlier this month. The state hosted its first demonstration flights of next-generation aircraft, with Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies conducting operations alongside the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Joby's remotely piloted J208 aircraft flew from Dare County Regional Airport to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Separately, BETA Technologies' electric ALIA aircraft completed multiple test flights between Raleigh Executive Jetport, Pitt-Greenville Airport, and Dare County Regional Airport. BETA CEO Kyle Clark said that over the past week the company's aircraft flew more than 16 medical and disaster response missions along that route, carrying a field medical station and supplies, with Metro Aviation participating in all of the missions.

Data collected through the program will be used by the Federal Aviation Administration to develop new regulations for eVTOL aircraft, autonomous planes, and drone technology. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the demonstrations will help build a system connecting communities and creating opportunities for jobs and essential services.

The program was unveiled by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in March and is outlined in President Trump's Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order. The eight selected projects span 28 states and cover urban air taxi services, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics, emergency medical response, autonomous flight, and offshore transportation. The North Carolina Department of Transportation and other participants plan additional test flights throughout the remainder of the year.