GAMA Has Questions for the FAA About eVTOL Certification

Now that the FAA is changing the path for electric air taxi certification, manufacturers, industry veterans, and a former FAA official weigh in.

Thom Patterson

Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 09:18 AM ET

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Joby Aviation says certification of its tilt-rotor electric air taxi, currently under development, will not be affected by the FAA changes. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has abruptly changed its certification process for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, shifting from FAR Part 21.17(a) to the "special class" process under FAR 21.17(b) for powered-lift aircraft.
This policy reversal, made without significant industry input, has created uncertainty and potential delays for eVTOL manufacturers who were nearing certification, raising concerns about timelines, increased workload, and international bilateral verification.
Manufacturers are now working with the FAA to understand the specific implications of the new approach, which defines eVTOLs as a special class requiring unique type certification for each design and new pilot training standards.
The FAA states the change is necessary due to the unique characteristics of powered-lift aircraft and the rapid technological developments in the sector, aiming for a more robust regulatory framework, though some industry experts worry it will complicate the path to market.

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It’s been six weeks since the FAA acknowledged it was changing a previously agreed on path to certificating electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Now comes the hard part for developers of these new battery-enabled hovering passenger and cargo air taxis: Figuring out specifically what the changes mean and how to move forward.

The nascent eVTOL industry is backed by high-profile companies—including Boeing, Toyota, United Airlines, and Uber. Industry leaders, such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Beta Technologies, have been progressing toward FAA certification after test flying full-sized prototypes for years, some of them planning to enter service as soon as 2024.