Congressman Mike Kennedy announced on Mar. 10 that the Utah Department of Transportation has been chosen to lead a multi-state coalition for the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Integration Pilot Program, known as uFLY: America’s AAM Crossroads to the West.
The selection positions Utah as one of eight states at the forefront of aviation technology, with expectations for job creation, investment, and a significant role in shaping future aviation standards.
“America wins when Utah leads. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, I am proud to lead a multi-state initiative to the U.S. Department of Transportation to highlight how Utah is prepared to lead the charge in aviation innovation,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “eVTOL tech is transforming aviation and Utah is ready to take the lead as one of the eight selected states.”
Senator John Curtis also commented on Utah’s leadership in this area. “The U.S. is leading the future of flight, and Utah is at the center of that innovation,” Curtis said. “Congratulations to the Utah Department of Transportation on being selected for the FAA’s new Advanced Air Mobility pilot program. This first-of-its-kind initiative will bring next-gen aircraft and high-paying jobs to Utah and will help prepare our state to hold a successful Winter Olympics in 2034.”
The program was outlined in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order and aims to accelerate safe integration of advanced air mobility aircraft into national airspace while maintaining U.S. leadership in aviation innovation. The pilot projects are expected to create large-scale real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft, providing data that will inform new Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “Thanks to President Trump, the future of aviation is here — and it’s going to dramatically improve how people and products move. Congratulations to the great American innovators behind each of these exciting pilot programs. Working together, we will ensure America leads the way in safely leveraging next-gen aircraft to radically redefine personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, emergency medicine, and so much more.”
Utah’s uFLY initiative will involve collaboration with Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Oklahoma, industry partners through 47G, and research institutions. The goal is to test new technologies and gather data that could shape national policy on advanced air mobility.
Carlos Braceras, Executive Director of UDOT, said: “Our job is to look ahead and prepare for what transportation will look like in the future. This partnership allows Utah to help lead the way as new aviation technologies become part of everyday mobility.”
Operations under this program are expected to begin by summer 2026.
