FAA to certify eVTOLS as ‘powered-lift aircraft’

“The rationale for doing this was really to streamline the policy framework to support the commercialization of these vehicles.”

—Adam Goldstein, CEO Archer Aviation

Greetings Doroni family,

Last Monday, the FAA announced that it was ‘modifying its regulatory approach’ to certificating eVTOL aircraft, a move that the agency says will not add delays to completing type certification as it works to ensure ‘minimal disruption’ to certification timelines.

The FAA said it now plans to certify eVTOLS as powered-lift aircraft—an existing category—and, in the “long term,” develop additional powered-lift regulations “to safely enable innovation” for “operations and pilot training.”

Per the FAA’s official statement: “The FAA’s [Part 23 certification] regulations were designed for traditional airplanes and helicopters. However, these regulations did not anticipate the need to train pilots to operate powered-lift, which take off in helicopter mode, transition into airplane mode for flying, and then transition back to helicopter mode for landing.”

Short term v. Long term

In the short term the FAA cited plans to create a “special class” process—under FAR 21.17 (b) rules—that will reportedly incorporate Part 23’s performance-based airworthiness standards.

“This ‘special class’ process is designed to address the many novel features of unique aircraft such as these emerging powered-lift designs,” according to the agency. “This regulatory framework already exists, and this approach is consistent with international standards.”??

According to a Reuters report, the impetus for the shift came from an ongoing audit by the US Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General, who said Urban Air Mobility vehicles present the FAA with “new and complex safety challenges.”

Safety is the top priority

In a written response to a request for clarification, an FAA spokesperson told AVweb.com:

“The FAA’s top priority is to make sure the flying public is safe. This obligation includes our oversight of the emerging generation of eVTOL vehicles. The agency is pursuing a predictable framework that will better accommodate the need to train and certify the pilots who will operate these novel aircraft.

“Our process for certifying the aircraft themselves remains unchanged. All of the development work done by current applicants remains valid and the changes in our regulatory approach should not delay their projects. As this segment of the industry continues to grow, we look forward to certifying innovative new technologies that meet the safety standards that the public expects and deserves.”

Industry reaction

Uber-backed electric air taxi developer Joby Aviation told investors that it expects no delays as a result of the FAA’s modified regulatory approach to type certification.?

“I think that, fundamentally, the approach that the FAA is taking here is mostly an administrative reclassification on the type certification side of things,” said Paul Sciarra, Joby executive chairman. “There’s certainly no adjustments to our guidance as a result.”

“We’re still working with the FAA to understand the full extent of the change,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer. “But in our view today, this is largely just an administrative change. In fact, we think this could streamline important aspects of the efforts to bring these vehicles into commercial service.”

This measure is intended to “more easily tie the vehicle airworthiness regulations… to the operational regulations—things like pilot training,” Goldstein said. “The rationale for doing this was to really streamline the policy framework to support the commercialization of these vehicles.”

Pete Bunce, who heads the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), said in an email the FAA decision is "in our minds detrimental to safety, and increases the workload on the FAA dramatically. This is bad policy for so many reasons."

Doroni Aerospace—Who We Are

Doroni Aerospace is targeting a Light Sport Aircraft certification with the FAA for our personal eVTOL—the Doroni H1—ahead of our product launch in the second half of 2024.?

As CEO/Co-Founder of Doroni Aerospace, based in Miami, it’s my mission to bring safe and consumer-first air transportation to the eVTOL industry with the Doroni H1—a safe and practical personal aircraft that uses an intuitive and easy-to-use control system that simplifies the inherent complexities of flight.