TxDOT starts Project Nexus, a three year state test of next generation aircraft whose first flights carry no passengers
The Texas Department of Transportation launched the first phase of Project Nexus on September 10th at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. It is the state's part of a federal pilot program for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The first phase tests across the state with helicopters and fixed wing planes, and those flights carry no passengers. They collect data and validate routes. Later phases move medical supplies and organs between rural facilities and medical centers in Austin and San Antonio, and the last phase carries passengers across the Texas triangle. At the kickoff an invited company, Merlin, flew a Cessna Caravan to show software it says handles takeoff, landing and radio calls to air traffic control. That account of the demonstration is the company's own.
How to take part
The program is already under way and no vote or comment window is open. The Texas Transportation Commission meets in public in Austin and takes public comment at its monthly meetings. TxDOT's newsroom carries the release and links photos and video from the kickoff.
Where
Statewide. This decision applies across Texas rather than to a named county.
Timeline
- effective
First phase launched at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the date of TxDOT's release
- Today
How this decision moved
One dated line per check, oldest first. A line that says nothing changed means somebody looked and it had not.
- 2026-10-08
Admitted to the record on TxDOT's own release of the first phase. The account of the autonomous flight shown at the kickoff is Merlin's own.
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
TxDOT is launching the first phase of Project Nexus.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration selected TxDOT’s proposal to be part of the new Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program back in March 2026.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
This first phase will test across the state using traditional aircraft such as helicopters and fixed-wing planes.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
These initial flights will not carry passengers and are designed to collect data, validate routes and support the safe development of future advanced air mobility operations.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
The Texas pilot will advance in phases over the next three years. The next phases involve testing for medical and cargo logistics, such as transporting critical medical supplies or organs between rural facilities and urban medical centers in Austin and San Antonio.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
The final phase involves passengers in “air taxi” flights across the Texas triangle.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
Duffy, Cruz, and TxDOT helped launch this first phase at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Manufacturers and operators were also there to provide an aircraft demonstration.TxDOT news release, Air-taxi testing taking flight in Texas Primary source, official · txdot.gov
TxDOT invited Merlin to the event as a supporting participant, enabling Merlin to demonstrate core capabilities of its AI-powered autonomy platform, the Merlin Pilot™, including autonomous takeoff and landing, AI-powered Air Traffic Control communications, and dynamic autonomous in-flight re-planning and threat avoidance.Merlin news release via GlobeNewswire, Merlin Demonstrates Autonomous Flight Capabilities at Texas Department of Transportation Project NEXUS eIPP Kickoff Event Primary source, the company · finviz.com
Merlin Cessna Caravan at Alliance AirportMerlin news release via GlobeNewswire, Merlin Demonstrates Autonomous Flight Capabilities at Texas Department of Transportation Project NEXUS eIPP Kickoff Event Primary source, the company · finviz.com
The demonstration, narrated by CEO and founder, Matt George, showcased how the Merlin Pilot can safely and effectively perform responsibilities traditionally managed by human pilotsMerlin news release via GlobeNewswire, Merlin Demonstrates Autonomous Flight Capabilities at Texas Department of Transportation Project NEXUS eIPP Kickoff Event Primary source, the company · finviz.com
Questions about this decision
Answered from the record itself. Every answer is assembled from stored fields, so an answer the record has no basis for is left out rather than guessed.
What is this decision?
The Texas Department of Transportation launched the first phase of Project Nexus on September 10th at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. It is the state's part of a federal pilot program for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The first phase tests across the state with helicopters and fixed wing planes, and those flights carry no passengers. They collect data and validate routes. Later phases move medical supplies and organs between rural facilities and medical centers in Austin and San Antonio, and the last phase carries passengers across the Texas triangle. At the kickoff an invited company, Merlin, flew a Cessna Caravan to show software it says handles takeoff, landing and radio calls to air traffic control. That account of the demonstration is the company's own.
Who decides it?
Texas Department of Transportation decides. The record names the deciding body for every entry it carries.
Can the public take part?
The program is already under way and no vote or comment window is open. The Texas Transportation Commission meets in public in Austin and takes public comment at its monthly meetings. TxDOT's newsroom carries the release and links photos and video from the kickoff. No dated public window is on the record. The deciding body is named and reachable.
Where in Texas does it apply?
It applies statewide.
Has it been decided?
It has been decided. The dates on the item page carry when.
What happens next?
No future date is on the record. The last dated step on it was effective on September 10th.
When did it start?
The earliest date on its record is September 10th, 2026.
What kind of decision is it?
It is filed under state policy.
What sources back it?
Two sources back it. Two of them are primary.
When was it last checked?
Every fact on it was last verified against its source on October 8th, 2026.
Cite this
Texas AI Docket, TxDOT starts Project Nexus, a three year state test of next generation aircraft whose first flights carry no passengers. Tracked since September 10th, 2026. Last verified October 8th, 2026. https://texasaidocket.com/item/tx-2026-0205/. Reuse permitted under CC BY 4.0 with attribution. The same entry is in the docket JSON as item tx-2026-0205.
Beat
Filed under State policy, with every other decision on that beat.