Flying taxis cleared for takeoff under new US aviation rules

'Powered-lift' becomes first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week released the final regulations for tiltrotors and other vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, including electric variants, the first time the org has established a new category of aircraft since it permitted helicopters to fly.

“This final rule addresses regulatory barriers to introducing powered-lift as a new category of aircraft into operations in the NAS [National Airspace System],” explained the FAA.

The FAA's "powered-lift" category refers to aircraft that take off like helicopters but transition to fly like airplanes. This design is expected to be used by air taxis, both for cargo and passenger transport.

“Powered lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years and this historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in the future,” cheered FAA administrator Mike Whitaker.

The rules also govern instructor and pilot qualification and training for the category, as well as operational requirements like minimum safe altitudes and visibility - treating the VTOLs like helicopters during some phases of flight, and applying a performance-based approach for certain operating rules.

It allows pilots to train in powered-lift aircraft with only a single set of flight controls, departing from legacy rules that required dual controls—one for the instructor and one for the student—during training sessions.

The administration also recognized that because these aircraft are still fairly new, there will be a shortage of instructors. In response, it will allow certain pilots employed by the manufacturer to obtain the necessary training and experience for powered-lift during test flight programs and crew training activities. These pilots will then become the initial group of instructors qualified to train other pilots in powered-lift operations.

The FAA detailed that there are currently no type-certified powered-lift aircraft in civil operations, but there are several applicants, some with “complex and unique designs, flight, and handling characteristics with varying degrees of automation.”

Archer, Joby, and Boeing-owned Wisk are among the promising companies developing eVTOLs governed by the FAA’s new rules. Joby received a limited flight license last year.

The startup released a statement in which it “welcomed the release of new rules.” It particularly praised the use of simulators as a replacement for actual stick time in certification training, which the company said is “consistent with Joby’s approach to preparing pilots for commercial service.”

Joby and its more than $2.2 billion worth of funding placed fourth in August 2024’s AAM Reality Index, a rating tool designed to assess the progress of companies in the industry. First place went to German outfit Volocopter, which is regulated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). ®