Autonomous Cargo Delivery Selected for White House Program

Elroy Air, a U.S.-based developer of autonomous aerial systems for middle-mile logistics, has been selected for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).

Formed under President Trump’s Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order, the initiative is designed to accelerate the safe deployment of eVTOL and advanced air mobility operations throughout the United States. Elroy Air was the only OEM selected with a purpose-built heavy-payload cargo drone, in contrast to other participants focused on air taxi platforms or retrofitted aircraft. By emphasizing uncrewed, pod-based logistics instead of passenger transport, the company’s approach offers unique regulatory pathways and utility for the global energy and shipping sectors.

Elroy Air was selected as part of the State of Louisiana’s application, alongside early customer and long-time partner Bristow Group. Under the program, its Chaparral, an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL drone capable of carrying 300 lbs of cargo up to 300 miles, will be deployed to deliver cargo across the Gulf Coast and to energy industry locations throughout Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. According to the USDOT announcement, operations are expected to begin in 2026, advancing the deployment of Chaparral’s autonomous capabilities in high-demand offshore and industrial environments.

Elroy Air CEO Dr. Andrew Clare, commented, “Chaparral was selected to define the federal standard for uncrewed heavy-payload logistics. That doesn’t happen without a truly mission-ready aircraft and a team that’s been doing this work for years. This reflects the strength of our partnerships with Bristow Group, the incredible team in Louisiana, and the FAA, as well as our ability to scale rapidly through our work with Kratos. We’re grateful to the White House, Secretary Duffy, USDOT, and the FAA for their commitment to American aviation leadership and we’re ready to deliver.”

This selection underscores federal interest in purpose-built autonomous systems for middle-mile aerial delivery. Participation in the eIPP enables Elroy Air to engage with the FAA through a collaborative framework to scale heavy-payload cargo systems. Chaparral will be an early entrant in large-scale integration into the National Airspace System, decoupled from the operational complexities of passenger-carrying aircraft.

Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Dave Stepanek, added, “At Bristow, we’re excited to build on our legacy of aviation leadership to usher in a new era of vertical lift operations with Chaparral. Our energy and government services customers are demanding lower risk, higher tempo, and more efficient options to meet the increasing demand for offshore aerial work, including the movement of critical cargo. Louisiana is our core U.S. base of operations to serve the Gulf Coast. We’re excited about the opportunities Chaparral creates, enhancing the services we provide to existing customers and opening new markets through interchangeable pods, equipment, and mission profiles.”

Engineered for speed, safety, and operational efficiency, the Chaparral enables next-generation logistics at reduced capital and operating costs compared to conventional crewed aircraft. The platform supports applications ranging from tactical resupply to humanitarian aid, delivering cargo rapidly while minimizing risk to personnel. Its autonomous functionality ensures the secure and reliable transport of critical supplies.

Elroy Air currently holds a backlog exceeding 1,000 aircraft across commercial and defense sectors and has established a partnership with Kratos to scale production.