What Happened
State Leads In Autonomous Cargo Flights Without Federal Funding
Louisiana has successfully flown its first uncrewed aircraft under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, with Elroy Air conducting autonomous Chaparral cargo flights from Houma-Terrebonne Airport. The flights, which carried ordinary offshore freight, were the first remotely piloted aircraft test flights under the national program. Although the state has a dedicated Advanced Aeronautics Director and a Vertiport Development Fund, neither the federal program nor the state fund has provided financial support. This development was first reported by AviNews.