Proposed Air Taxi Regulations Reveal Possible Future of eVTOL

EASA releases world’s ‘first’ regulatory framework for air taxis operating in European cities.

Friday, July 01, 2022 at 02:00 PM ET

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The proposed operational regulatory framework for non-conventional VTOLs brings the European Union one small step closer to electric air taxis becoming a reality. [Courtesy: EASA]

Key Takeaways:

EASA has published the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework for urban air taxi (eVTOL) operations, addressing airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing, and rules of the air.
The framework specifies that initially, only existing licensed airplane or rotorcraft pilots will be authorized to fly eVTOLs after obtaining a specific type rating, with no ab initio training allowed.
Initial commercial operations for air taxis will follow limited, predefined routes and vertiports, while maintaining the "see and avoid" principle and planning for a future transition to remotely piloted aircraft.
This proactive regulatory move by EASA aims to facilitate the rapid and safe integration of electric air taxis into European airspace, supporting companies targeting service as early as 2024-2025.

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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released what it calls the world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for urban air taxi flight operations covering “airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing, and rules of the air.”

The document, unveiled Thursday, remains open for public comment through this September, and it helps answer several critical questions pilots have long had about this entirely new emerging sector of aviation: electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The proposal brings the European Union one step closer to electric air taxis becoming a reality.