“This is absolutely a temporary measure.” That was the response from the FAA manager in charge when asked about a draft proposal that would prohibit electric airplanes from carrying passengers, flying over congested areas or operating at night — as you might have guessed, it’s all being done in the name of safety.
Craig Holmes of the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Branch said numerous issues related to electric airplanes’ lithium batteries remain, but they are now under study as the agency prepares for future operations by electric aircraft like the Pipistrel Taurus Electro G2. Safety concerns relate to battery venting, whether to require crash-proof enclosures for batteries, potential overcharging dangers and other factors.
