The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has celebrated a hybrid-electric flight demonstration between Salt Lake City International Airport and Cedar City Regional Airport in Utah.
The flight was conducted by Ampaire and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) as part of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The programme is intended to provide operational experience that can support the integration of advanced air mobility aircraft into the US National Airspace System.
The demonstration followed the I-15 corridor and was conducted to assess the potential use of hybrid-electric aircraft for future cargo operations.
FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau said:We’re excited to support the Utah Department of Transportation and Ampaire under the eIPP. This demonstration will provide valuable operational experience and help us understand how to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility into the National Airspace System.
UDOT carried out the demonstration through its uFLY initiative, which brings together government, industry and research organisations to test emerging aviation technologies and collect operational data.
UDOT Commissioner Carlos Braceras said:Our responsibility is to prepare Utah's transportation system for the future, and today's demonstration shows this future is already taking flight. Through the uFLY initiative, Utah is bringing together industry, government and research partners to collect data so the FAA may safely evaluate emerging aviation technologies that have the potential to strengthen regional connectivity, expand economic opportunity and improve mobility for communities across our state and the nation.
The eIPP was established under the US Department of Transportation following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The programme provides real-world testing opportunities for next-generation aircraft and is intended to help identify the regulatory, operational and infrastructure requirements associated with their deployment.
In March 2026, the Department of Transportation selected eight projects across 26 states to participate in the programme. UDOT is one of the eight selected participants.
The FAA plans to use data gathered through the demonstrations to identify gaps in existing procedures and develop approaches for integrating advanced air mobility operations into the National Airspace System.
