Flying cars are coming to Texas: Here’s what the FAA’s new pilot program means for Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texans could soon skip the highway and head to the sky. The Federal Aviation Administration announced a new pilot program to bring flying cars — known as electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs — to major cities across the state.

The program, part of a partnership between the FAA and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), will test air taxi routes connecting Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.

Four aircraft companies (Archer, BETA, Joby and Wisk) will work with TxDOT to build out what could become one of the nation’s first air‑mobility networks.

“This is going to be the next domain of transportation, the next golden age of aviation,” said Sergio Roman, TxDOT’s director of emerging aviation technology.

“Our whole goal is to make sure that as we innovate and as we try to be a leader in this space, that we do this safely, efficiently, and that we make sure that Texans are really going to benefit from this,” he said.

FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau called the effort a “first‑of‑its‑kind program to bring new, innovative aircraft into our national airspace in a safe manner.”

The FAA selected eight regions nationwide for the broader eVTOL Integration Pilot Program — spanning 26 states.

Federal officials said operations could begin as early as summer 2026, though TxDOT expects test aircraft to take flight in Texas even sooner.

“I do think we will be seeing the aircraft themselves flying in these pilot programs here this year,” Roman said.

What the program means for Texas

Texas’ proposal stood out, FAA officials said, because it offered a unique opportunity to test air‑mobility “ecosystems” — everything from city‑to‑city air taxis to rural cargo delivery and offshore transport to energy sites.

“What we’re seeing is the potential to transform the way people and cargo move across the national airspace system specific to Texas,” Roman said.

Officials also expect the program to create thousands of high‑tech jobs nationwide to support the program.

A future alternative to airport headaches?

News of the program comes as travelers at Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport faced long lines Friday morning, with security queues stretching outside the terminal for nearly two hours.

AUS expected 35,000 departing passengers Friday — driven by SXSW crowds and early spring break travel — and the ongoing partial federal government shutdown has strained TSA staffing nationwide.

Airport leaders say passenger volumes will remain high through late March and early April, with multiple days projected to top 30,000 departing travelers.

What Texans will see next

As test flights begin, FAA and TxDOT officials say they will notify communities so no one is caught off guard by unfamiliar aircraft buzzing overhead.

“We want people energized about the new opportunities coming their way,” Rocheleau said.

For now, the program remains in its early stages — but officials stress that the technology, regulation and infrastructure are finally aligning.

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