What Happened
Regulatory Approach Now Aligns Closer To Airplane And Helicopter Standards
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a new policy for the certification of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, adopting a more conventional approach that aligns with its existing policies for airplanes and helicopters. The policy establishes four powered-lift certification levels based on maximum passenger seating configuration and gross weight, determining the FAA’s safety objectives for system safety and aircraft performance. This move diverges from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s eVTOL certification rules, which have separate categories for operational use. The change was reported by an unknown source.