FAA to Undergo Audit of Air Taxi Certification Process

An audit aimed at examining the FAA’s certification process for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis is expected to begin by the end of this month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.

Thom Patterson

Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 11:25 AM ET

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The Department of Transportation Inspector General’s Office is about to examine the FAA’s certification process for electric air taxis. [Courtesy: EASA]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s IG will begin an audit of the FAA’s certification process for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis by the end of this month.
The audit aims to assess the FAA's progress in establishing certification standards, ensuring the safety of novel eVTOL features, and providing guidance to applicants.
The process highlights the challenge of adapting existing aviation regulations, primarily intended for traditional aircraft, to the new and complex safety considerations of rapidly developing eVTOL technology.

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The USDOT IG audit intends “to determine FAA’s progress in establishing the bases for certification of [urban air mobility] aircraft, including ensuring the safety of novel features and providing guidance to applicants,” the office said in a memo released Monday.