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:

The launch of U.S. air taxi (eVTOL) services is significantly delayed due to a Department of Transportation (DOT) audit revealing years of internal strife, mismanagement, and fragmented communication within the FAA regarding Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft certification.
The audit highlighted the FAA's protracted indecision on the proper AAM certification pathway, a subsequent reversal that surprised applicants, and the lack of clear airworthiness standards and operating rules for powered-lift aircraft.
This regulatory backlog means the FAA must now develop entirely new regulations for powered-lift aircraft, including pilot certification and commercial operations, which is a multi-year process and challenges air taxi firms' 2025 service launch targets.
While the FAA has concurred with DOT recommendations to accelerate rulemaking, improve communication, and clarify internal roles, the audit warns that the agency will likely continue to face significant challenges in fully integrating AAM into the national airspace.

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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.”