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Federal regulators have paved the way for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to share U.S. airspace with planes and helicopters — a win for the burgeoning industry and a timely decision for startups like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation that are expected to launch air taxi networks commercially in 2018. 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday published its long-awaited report Final ruling Regarding the integration of “powered-lift” vehicles, a category the FAA revived two years ago to accommodate vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and one that describes aircraft that can take off and land like helicopters, but then transition to forward flight like airplanes.
“Powered aircraft are the first new class of aircraft in nearly 80 years, and this historic base will pave the way to accommodate large-scale advanced air mobility operations in the future,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. statement. Whitaker announced the rule during the NBAA’s Business Aviation Conference and Expo in Las Vegas.
The ruling also includes guidelines for pilot training and clarifies operating rules. For example, aside from a new type of instrument lift pilot certification, the ruling includes an expanded ability for operators to train and qualify pilots using flight simulator training devices.
Operating bases are designed specifically for automated lift vehicles and, therefore, allow eVTOLs the flexibility to switch between helicopter and aircraft bases as needed.
Joby, Archer, Beta Technologies and Wisk Aero — which build aircraft for urban air taxi networks, defense, shipping and medical logistics — have worked closely with the FAA since 2022 to develop this new set of rules for training, operations and surveillance. maintenance.
“(The ruling) is in line with all the hopes we were designing for,” Greg Bowles, head of government affairs at Gobi Aviation, told TechCrunch. “So the way we designed the operating system, the way we designed the cockpit, the way we designed the power reserves, they’re all in compliance with the FAA rule.”
Bowles also noted that Joby will be able to begin commercial operations once it receives type certification from the FAA, meaning the startup’s aircraft design and other key aircraft components meet required safety and airworthiness standards. The Gobi is in the fourth of five stages of type certification, and recently received a $500 million capital infusion from Toyota to help it get to the finish line.
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