Utah launched its uFLY initiative with the first demonstration flight of Ampaire’s hybrid-electric EEL between Salt Lake City International Airport and Cedar City Regional Airport. The flight, carried out with the Utah Department of Transportation and local and federal partners, tested hybrid-electric regional operations on existing airport infrastructure.
The programme is part of a public-private effort linked to the FAA’s advanced air mobility work under the eIPP framework, with a focus on operational readiness, infrastructure needs and future integration into the National Airspace System. UDOT plans additional demonstrations over the coming months as it assesses how new aircraft types could support regional cargo and passenger services.
Ampaire’s EEL combines electric and conventional propulsion, and UDOT said the aircraft has logged more than 35,000 miles in flight. The Utah-based battery supplier EP Systems provided the technology used in the aircraft, underscoring the local industrial base behind the project.