FAA Releases Powered-Lift Certification Guidance

Advisory circular provides a blueprint for authorizing the first new class of civil aircraft in decades.

Jack Daleo

Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

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Jack Daleo

Developers of powered-lift aircraft, such as Joby Aviation’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, receive new guidance for certifying their designs. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has released its first-ever certification guidance for "powered-lift" aircraft, marking the creation of a new civil aircraft category since helicopters and providing a clear pathway for advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles like eVTOLs.
This long-awaited advisory circular (AC) streamlines the certification process by establishing consistent, performance-based design and safety standards for manufacturers, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of these innovative aircraft.
Key changes in the AC include increased design flexibility for manufacturers, revised propeller certification requirements, and the replacement of minimum speed stipulations with comprehensive "flight profiles" to assess performance and safety.

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The FAA this month quietly published long-awaited guidance for the certification of powered-lift aircraft—the first new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s.

Powered-lift models have characteristics of both airplanes and rotorcraft, which places the regulator in a bind when it comes to defining their airworthiness. But a new advisory circular (AC), dated July 18, gives powered-lift developers the blueprint to earn type, production, and airworthiness certification for their designs. So far, none have been greenlit for commercial use.