President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Becomes First Transportation Secretary to Fly in Next Generation Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft

Key Terms

electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft technical

An electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft is a small plane that uses electric motors and batteries to lift off and land straight up like a helicopter, while operating more like a short-range airplane for point-to-point trips; think of it as a cross between a helicopter and an electric car. It matters to investors because it aims to open new, faster urban and regional transport markets and cut operating costs and emissions, but value depends heavily on battery performance, safety certification, infrastructure and long development timelines.

evtol technical

eVTOL stands for "electric vertical takeoff and landing" aircraft, which are small, electric-powered vehicles capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter. They are designed to provide quick, on-demand transportation within cities or between locations, potentially transforming urban mobility. For investors, eVTOLs represent a growing segment of innovative transportation technology with potential for significant market impact and future growth.

advanced air mobility technical

Advanced air mobility involves the development and use of new types of aircraft, such as electric or hybrid vehicles, to transport people and goods through the air more efficiently and safely. It aims to improve urban transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and open up new markets for aerial services. For investors, it represents a growing industry with potential for technological innovation and future economic impact.

autonomous flight technologies technical

Autonomous flight technologies are systems that enable aircraft or drones to navigate, make decisions and operate without a human pilot on board, using sensors, software and automation to handle tasks like takeoff, route planning and landing. For investors they matter because they can lower operating costs, open new markets (such as delivery or air taxis) and change regulatory and safety risk profiles—similar to how self-driving software reshapes cars and transport businesses.

federal aviation administration regulatory

A U.S. government agency that sets and enforces safety, certification, and operating rules for civil aviation, including aircraft, pilots, airlines, airports, and air traffic control. Think of it as the traffic cop and building inspector for the skies: its approvals, inspections, and regulations can change how quickly new planes or technologies reach the market, alter operating costs, or trigger safety-related grounding or fines, all of which can affect the revenues and stock prices of aviation-related companies.

faa regulatory

The FAA is the U.S. government agency that oversees civil aviation, including aircraft safety, pilot licensing, air traffic control and rules for new technologies like drones. For investors, FAA actions are like a referee’s calls in a game: their approvals, fines or rule changes can directly affect an airline’s operations, a manufacturer’s ability to sell aircraft, or a technology company’s market access and costs, which in turn can change revenue and risk profiles.

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Trump Administration’s pilot program is unleashing American innovation to redefine how people and products move

BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on Friday became the first Transportation Secretary in American history to fly in an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). Secretary Duffy’s historic flight — which marks an important milestone in development of these next generation aircraft — took place at BETA Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BETA) headquarters in Vermont.

This technology will generate new jobs, connect communities, and strengthen American leadership in aviation.

eVTOLs are aircraft that have the potential to generate new jobs, connect communities, and strengthen American leadership in aviation.

To ensure American innovation leads the way, Secretary Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unveiled a new pilot program (eIPP) to begin testing advanced air mobility vehicles and their real-world applications out in the field. The eight selected projects span 26 states and partner with leading aircraft manufacturers, operators, and state partners.

• Urban air taxi services
• Regional passenger transportation (including short Takeoff and Landing aircraft)
• Cargo and logistics networks
• Emergency medical response operations
• Autonomous flight technologies
• Offshore and energy-sector transportation

“This is the kind of innovation I love to see: technology that’s going to fundamentally improve how people and products move. BETA Technologies is one of many great American companies making sure the United States’ leads the way in this exciting technology. From emergency organ transplants to regional air travel, these next generation aircraft have so many revolutionary applications,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The future of flight is coming. The Trump Administration will continue to do our part to support the safe integration of these innovations into our airspace.”

BETA Technologies is developing both an electric conventional take-off and landing aircraft (eCTOL) and an eVTOL aircraft, as well as a suite of enabling technologies that include the necessary charging infrastructure being rolled out nationwide.

Additional Information:

The eIPP, which was outlined in President Trump’s Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order, is accelerating the safe integration of next generation Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into the national airspace and ensuring the United States leads the way in aviation innovation.

Together, these pilot projects will create one of the largest real-world testing environments for next generation aircraft in the world. In addition to offering the American people an exciting window into the future of aviation, data from the pilot projects will be used by the FAA to develop new regulations that safely enable this futuristic technology at scale.

In December, Secretary Duffy and the FAA launched the nation’s first-ever advanced air mobility (AAM) strategy to unlock the future of flight. The Strategy and accompanying action plan outline 40 recommendations to safely and efficiently support AAM operations.

About BETA Technologies, Inc.

BETA (NYSE: BETA) is an aerospace and defense company designing, manufacturing and selling high-performance electric aircraft, advanced electric propulsion systems, components and charging systems to top operators worldwide. BETA has built and flown its family of ALIA aircraft, consisting of both conventional fixed-wing electric aircraft (the “ALIA CTOL”) and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (the “ALIA VTOL”), more than 135,000 nautical miles, including multiple trips across the United States. BETA is deploying a network of charging infrastructure to enable the growing industry with more than 100 sites across the United States and internationally. BETA’s intentional approach to developing the enabling technologies necessary to electrify aviation unlocks lucrative aftermarket revenue opportunity over the life of each aircraft. These highly scalable enabling technologies allow BETA to serve a customer base across cargo and logistics, defense, passenger and medical end markets and unlock cost-effective and safe missions. BETA was named the #1 company on TIME’s list of the World’s Top GreenTech Companies of 2025. Visit www.beta.team for more information about BETA and its products.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260601079151/en/

Media:
press@beta.team

Investor Relations:
Devon Rothman, Head of Investor Relations and FP&A
investors@beta.team

Source: BETA Technologies, Inc.