The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that Ampaire Inc. and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) have conducted a hybrid-electric demonstration flight along Utah’s I-15 corridor to test future cargo service. The demonstration flight took place between Salt Lake City International Airport and Cedar City Regional Airport.
The flight represents the second major step in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s efforts to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft into the National Airspace System under the FAA eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The eIPP initiative was outlined in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order to establish large-scale real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft.
FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau stated that the agency is excited to support the Utah Department of Transportation and Ampaire Inc. under the eIPP program. Rocheleau noted that the demonstration will provide valuable operational experience and help authorities understand how to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility into the National Airspace System.
UDOT Commissioner Carlos Braceras highlighted that the demonstration shows the future of Utah's transportation system is taking flight. Braceras explained that through the uFLY initiative, Utah is bringing together industry, government, and research partners to collect data so the FAA can safely evaluate emerging aviation technologies that could expand economic opportunity and improve mobility.
In March 2026, the Department of Transportation selected eight projects across 26 states to participate in the eIPP, with the Utah Department of Transportation being one of the designated participants. The FAA will use lessons learned from these flight demonstrations to identify gaps, refine procedures, and support safe airspace integration, while UDOT and other participants plan additional test flights throughout the remainder of the year.
