Merlin, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRLN) participated in the kickoff event for the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), known as Project NEXUS, held at Alliance Airport in Texas on Sept. 10, 2026.

The event also included eIPP partners Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies, along with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz.

TxDOT invited Merlin as a supporting participant, where the company demonstrated capabilities of its AI-powered autonomy platform, the Merlin Pilot, including autonomous takeoff and landing, AI-powered air traffic control communications, and autonomous in-flight re-planning and threat avoidance.

Merlin Chief Technology Officer Tim Burns said in a statement: "Safely integrating advanced air mobility into the National Airspace System requires close collaboration among industry, regulators, and government leaders. The Project NEXUS kickoff provides an important forum for that work, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to demonstrate how Merlin Pilot can safely execute critical flight responsibilities traditionally managed by human pilots."

TxDOT's Project NEXUS was selected for the Federal Aviation Administration's eIPP earlier in 2026. The multi-state initiative includes Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and the Choctaw Nation, and is designed to support the safe integration of Advanced Air Mobility into the National Airspace System.