The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved eight pilot programs that will allow companies including Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation, and Wisk to begin widespread electric aircraft testing as early as summer. The three-year program will span 26 states and aims to ensure U.S. companies lead in next-gen aircraft used for personal travel, regional transportation, cargo logistics, and emergency medicine. The pilot program will allow these companies to test their eVTOL aircraft even though they have not received full regulatory certification. This accelerated timeline could bolster the efforts of many companies that have gone public in recent years. Beta Technologies founder and CEO Kyle Clark said being selected for the program would allow the company to start aircraft operations one year earlier than anticipated. The FAA received 30 proposals and will partner with state, local, tribal, or territorial governments.