Federal Aviation Administration eVTOL Integration Program a Step Forward for Powered-Lift Aviation

Rhea-AI Summary

XTI Aerospace (Nasdaq: XTIA) has expressed support for the FAA's new Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which aims to modernize certification and testing for next-generation powered-lift aircraft. The program includes establishing a National Advanced Air Mobility Integration Office and implementing Agile Airworthiness Corridors for testing.

While XTIA's TriFan 600 is not battery-electric, the company views this regulatory framework as beneficial for all powered-lift platforms. The TriFan 600, targeted for 2027, is designed to operate from helipads and short runways, offering speeds over 300 mph and a range of up to 1000 miles. The company has already completed successful tests of its Sparrow and Kestrel prototypes and is preparing the TriHawk prototype.

Positive

• FAA's new eIPP program signals federal support for powered-lift aircraft integration
• Company has successfully completed testing of Sparrow and Kestrel prototypes
• TriFan 600 offers superior range (1000 miles) and speed (300+ mph) compared to battery-powered alternatives

Negative

• Full-scale TriFan 600 demonstrator not expected until 2027
• Program primarily focuses on battery-electric aircraft, while XTIA's platform uses conventional power

Insights

Aerospace Industry Analyst

FAA's new eVTOL integration program benefits XTI Aerospace's TriFan 600 development by signaling regulatory progress for powered-lift aircraft.

The FAA's new Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) represents a significant regulatory milestone for the emerging powered-lift aviation sector. While focused primarily on battery-electric aircraft, this program establishes a foundational framework that will benefit XTI Aerospace's hybrid-powered TriFan 600 development.

The creation of a National Advanced Air Mobility Integration Office and Agile Airworthiness Corridors addresses two critical industry bottlenecks: regulatory uncertainty and testing infrastructure. These elements have historically slowed certification paths for novel aircraft designs like XTI's TriFan 600.

XTI's current position in its development timeline is noteworthy - with successful subscale prototype testing of the Sparrow and Kestrel models completed and preparations underway for the TriHawk prototype. The company's target of a full-scale piloted demonstrator by 2027 aligns with the regulatory momentum this federal program provides.

The TriFan 600's specifications (300+ mph cruise speed and 1,000-mile range) position it in a different operational category than most battery-electric eVTOLs, which typically offer shorter ranges and lower speeds. This differentiation is strategically important as XTI aims to serve regional transportation, business aviation, medical transport, and defense applications - markets requiring longer-range capabilities.

While this announcement doesn't alter XTI's fundamental development timeline, it does suggest a more streamlined path to eventual certification and operational approval, potentially reducing regulatory friction for this category of aircraft.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- XTI Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq: XTIA), a pioneer in vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for regional and mission-critical aviation, today expressed support for the FAA's newly announced Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program, known as eIPP. The initiative represents a national push to modernize certification and testing, and provide access to airspace for next-generation powered-lift aircraft.

"The FAA's announcement is a meaningful signal that the United States is committed to building a pathway for vertical flight in everyday operations," said Scott Pomeroy, CEO and Chairman of XTI Aerospace. "The TriFan 600 is a powered-lift aircraft with the ability to operate from helipads and short runways while delivering the speed, range, and payload of a fixed-wing business airplane. While the eIPP focuses on battery-electric aircraft, we believe it marks an important shift in how our government approaches the broader class of powered-lift platforms, an important shift toward a more inclusive and scalable regulatory framework."

Unveiled by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, the eIPP outlines a clear federal framework for accelerating the integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles into the National Airspace System. The plan includes the creation of a National Advanced Air Mobility Integration Office, deployment of Agile Airworthiness Corridors for real-world testing and expanded public-private cooperation across air mobility sectors.

"The eIPP represents the kind of policy momentum that benefits the entire powered-lift category," said David Ambrose, Vice President of Engineering at XTI Aircraft. "It signals greater clarity and urgency in how these aircraft will be evaluated and integrated, whether they are electric, hybrid, or conventionally powered."

By reinforcing federal attention on powered-lift innovation and test infrastructure, the eIPP complements XTI's mission to deliver a new class of aircraft that can reshape regional transportation and lead aviation innovation across commercial and governmental applications.

XTI Aerospace is advancing through a milestone-driven development program that includes a series of progressively larger subscale flight test aircraft. The company recently completed successful flight operations of the Sparrow and Kestrel prototypes and is preparing its the TriHawk prototype. A full-scale, piloted TriFan 600 demonstrator is targeted for 2027.

The TriFan 600 is engineered to meet the demands of business travelers, air medical operators, and national defense agencies who require longer range, higher speed, and reliable all-weather performance. Its ability to take off and land vertically while cruising at over 300 miles per hour with a range of up to 1000 miles addresses key operational gaps that shorter range battery-powered aircraft cannot fill.

About XTI Aerospace, Inc.
XTI Aerospace (XTIAerospace.com) (Nasdaq: XTIA) is the parent company of XTI Aircraft Company, an aviation business based near Denver, Colorado, currently developing the TriFan 600, a fixed-wing business aircraft designed to have the vertical takeoff and landing capability of a helicopter, maximum cruising speeds of over 300 miles per hour, and a range up to 1000 miles. The TriFan 600 creates a new aircraft category within the broader class of powered-lift solutions. Additionally, the Inpixon (inpixon.com) business unit of XTI Aerospace is a leader in real-time location systems technology, with customers around the world who use the company's location intelligence solutions in factories and other industrial facilities to help optimize operations, increase productivity, and enhance safety. For more information about XTI, please visit XTIAerospace.com and follow XTI on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including without limitation, statements about the products under development by XTI, the advantages of XTI's technology, XTI's anticipated regulatory milestones, the timing and likelihood of achieving type certification or other regulatory approvals, and XTI's customers, plans, and strategies are forward-looking statements.

Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including believe, continue, could, would, will, estimate, expect, intend, plan, target, projects, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts, and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by XTI Aerospace and its management, are inherently uncertain, and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations. XTI undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that might subsequently arise. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the risk factors discussed from time to time in XTI's filings with the SEC, including those factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC.

Contacts
General inquiries: contact@xtiaerospace.com
Web: https://xtiaerospace.com/contact/

Investor Relations
Dave Gentry, CEO
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Phone: 1 407 644 4256
Email: XTIA@redchip.com

 

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SOURCE XTI Aerospace, Inc.

FAQ

What is the FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) and how does it affect XTIA stock?

The eIPP is a federal framework to accelerate the integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles into the National Airspace System. While XTIA's TriFan 600 isn't battery-electric, the program signals broader regulatory support for powered-lift aircraft.

What are the key features of XTIA's TriFan 600 aircraft?

The TriFan 600 can take off and land vertically, cruise at over 300 miles per hour, has a range of up to 1000 miles, and can operate from helipads and short runways.

When will XTIA's TriFan 600 be ready for demonstration?

XTIA is targeting 2027 for a full-scale, piloted TriFan 600 demonstrator. The company has already completed testing of smaller prototypes called Sparrow and Kestrel.

How does XTIA's TriFan 600 compare to battery-powered eVTOL aircraft?

The TriFan 600 offers significantly longer range (1000 miles) and higher speed (300+ mph) compared to battery-powered aircraft, addressing operational gaps that shorter-range electric aircraft cannot fill.

What progress has XTIA made in aircraft development?

XTIA has completed successful flight operations of its Sparrow and Kestrel prototypes and is preparing the TriHawk prototype, following a milestone-driven development program toward the full-scale TriFan 600.