DOT: Internal Strife ‘Hindered FAA’s Progress’ on AAM Regs

Audit claims mismanagement and miscommunication continue to inhibit FAA rulemaking on air taxi regulations.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 05:31 PM ET

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AAM aircraft, such as Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL, face delays in certification. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

A U.S. Department of Transportation audit revealed that internal mismanagement, including years of strife and fragmented communication within the FAA, has significantly delayed the certification and regulation of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft like air taxis.
A primary cause of these delays was the FAA's prolonged indecision and eventual reversal on the appropriate certification pathway for eVTOL aircraft, which necessitated developing entirely new operating and pilot regulations.
These ongoing regulatory and procedural challenges mean that the launch of U.S. air taxi routes, some initially targeted for 2025, will likely face further significant setbacks despite the FAA's commitment to address the audit's recommendations.

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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the U.S.’s first air taxi routes, which have been set back by regulatory red tape. But according to a U.S. Department of Transportation audit of the FAA, they may need to wait even longer than expected.

The audit, published last week, details years of internal strife, mismanagement, and fragmented communication it claims have unnecessarily delayed the certification and regulation of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft, such as air taxis. The DOT issued four recommendations to the FAA—with which it concurred—but said the agency “will likely continue to face challenges.”