First-ever demonstration represents the launch of UDOT’s uFLY program
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (August 6, 2026) — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) today launched its uFLY initiative with the first demonstration flight of a hybrid-electric aircraft in Utah.
Flown by Ampaire, the hybrid-electric aircraft, named EEL, traveled between Salt Lake City International Airport and Cedar City Regional Airport. The flight marks another major milestone in Utah’s leadership in advanced air mobility.
uFLY is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership led by UDOT that brings together five western states, industry leaders and research institutions to safely accelerate the integration of advanced air mobility technologies into the National Airspace System (NAS). By leveraging the West’s diverse geography—from mountain airports to rural communities and desert environments— the program provides a real-world proving ground to test and evaluate emerging aviation technologies in real-world conditions.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), through the U.S. Department of Transportation, selected UDOT to lead one of eight partnerships nationwide for the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program, eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), a three-year initiative designed to help safely integrate advanced aircraft into the NAS.
Today’s demonstration flight is an important step in evaluating how advanced air mobility can improve connections between urban and rural Utah, expand transportation options and support economic opportunity across the state.
“This mission demonstrates why hybrid-electric aviation is practical for regional operations today,” said Kevin Noertker, co-founder and CEO of Ampaire. “Our hybrids operate across meaningful distances, varied terrain and existing airports without waiting for new infrastructure. The propulsion system changes; the regional aviation system does not have to.”
Ampaire’s hybrid-electric propulsion system combines electric and conventional power, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining the range, reliability and operational flexibility needed for regional aviation. The company’s aircraft have flown more than 35,000 miles, demonstrating the maturity of hybrid-electric technology for today’s aviation network.
Ampaire’s aircraft use battery technology developed by Utah-based EP Systems, highlighting Utah’s role in advancing aviation technology. The batteries provide clean electric power that allows the aircraft to use less fuel while maintaining the range needed for regional flights.
Today’s flight is the first of several demonstrations planned through the uFLY program. In the coming months, UDOT and its industry, academic and government partners will continue to publicly demonstrate AAM technologies through real-world operations across Utah, helping inform policymaking, infrastructure planning and the safe integration of next-generation aircraft into the state’s transportation system.
“Today’s flight marks the start of an important effort to test advanced aircraft in real-world conditions,” UDOT Aeronautics Director Matt Maass said. “Each demonstration helps us better understand how these technologies can safely connect communities and demonstrates why Utah is leading the way in advanced air mobility.”
Hybrid-electric aircraft represent an important step toward a future where aviation is quieter, more fuel-efficient and accessible, creating new opportunities to connect communities while supporting responsible environmental stewardship.
