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Joby aircraft
FAA reauthorization paves way for eVTOL flights
By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill
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The U.S. has taken an enormous step closer toward a future by which electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, popularly generally known as “flying taxis,” will have the opportunity to often transport people and cargo to and from existing airport.
The bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, which President Biden signed into law earlier this month, directs the FAA to work with eVTOL manufacturers, prospective operators and other relevant stakeholders to encourage the expansion of a sophisticated air mobility (AAM) system and enable the secure entry of those next-generation aircraft into the national airspace system.
“It’s the sense of Congress that the US should take actions to change into a world leader in advanced air mobility,” the bill states. The FAA is directed to prioritize work on the sort certification of so-called powered-lift aircraft, and to publish “rulemakings and policy needed to enable business operations.”
Two former high-ranking FAA officials praised the AAM sections of the laws in a blog post on the web site of eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation.
“By directing the FAA to prioritize the commercialization of Advanced Air Mobility, this Congress has implemented foundation laws that sets the stage for U.S. leadership in the following 100 years of aviation,” wrote Michael Huerta, former FAA administrator and current member of the board of directors for each Delta Air Lines and Joby Aviation, and Dan Elwell, former acting FAA administrator and currently a member of Joby’s board of advisors.
“As a part of reauthorizing the FAA for the following five years, Congress has included a mandate for the agency to arrange for the secure introduction of electrical and hydrogen-electric aircraft into the national airspace system,” the blog post states. “These aircraft, designed to be quieter and more sustainable than the airplanes and helicopters within the sky today, will reimagine our relationship with aviation and chart a course for the decarbonization of the sector.”
The Joby officials said the reauthorization bill helps promote the event of an AAM system by:
- Prioritizing the dedication of resources to the sort certification of novel aircraft and propulsion systems;
- Ending development of the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that covers the pilot training and operations of powered-lift aircraft;
- Modernizing and electrifying existing aviation infrastructure, with a watch towards the creation of the following generation of infrastructure, called vertiports;
- Updating the FAA’s existing bilateral aviation safety agreements with civil aviation authorities across the globe to make sure aircraft certified within the U.S. could be expediently introduced into foreign markets.
“By mandating the FAA to lean into AAM, Congress goals to be sure that the FAA will function a driving force for innovation and continued U.S. leadership while keeping safety at the center of its mission,” the blog post states.
Vertiport construction prioritized
German aerospace company Lilium also applauded the passage of the FAA reauthorization bill. “After working with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for effective eVTOL policies within the bill, Lilium is pleased to see that several electric aviation initiatives are prioritized in the ultimate bill,” the corporate, which developed the Lilium Jet VTOL aircraft, said in an announcement.
Lilium noted that the laws places a high priority on the development of infrastructure for eVTOL aircraft, including the establishment of recent guidance for a performance-based vertiport design by the top of 2025, in addition to establishing an updated process for environmental assessments for vertiports.
To be sure that the buildout of a system of vertiports in not bogged down in a sea of environmental regulations, the reauthorization bill directs the FAA administrator to use any applicable categorical exclusions to the development process, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. If further directs the administrator, after consultation with the Council on Environmental quality, to take steps to ascertain additional categorical exclusions for the development of vertiports on airport property.
As well as, Lilium welcomed the section of the laws that calls for the FAA to update its Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) on Powered-Lift Certifications and Operations by the top of 2024, which the eVTOL developer said “is crucial for the success of this progressive industry.”
The ultimate rule will “provide a practical pathway for pilot qualification and operation. It would also establish performance-based requirements for energy reserves and other range- and endurance-related requirements; and supply for a mix of pilot training requirements, including simulators, to make sure the secure operation of powered-lift aircraft. The rule also will be sure that the qualifications for eVTOL aircraft pilots are in step with qualifications outlined by civil aviation authorities.
“We’re encouraged to see lawmakers take concrete steps toward ensuring the creation of operating rules needed for eVTOL aircraft,” said Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe. “The U.S. is a globally vital marketplace for aircraft just like the Lilium Jet and we welcome this extra guidance from Congress as we seek dual certification in each the U.S. and at home in Europe.”
Third-party air traffic systems approved
One other a part of the reauthorization bill that is anticipated to assist spur the expansion of AAM and encourage the event of vertiports on existing airport sites is Section 932. This section sets up a mechanism for approving the establishment of third-party service providers, including developers of aircraft traffic management systems, “to support the secure integration and business operation of unmanned aircraft systems.”
In a letter to congressional leaders, a coalition of like-minded firms said the regulations would “end in an approval process for all third-party services which might be required for secure and successful UAS operations.” The resulting third-party air traffic management systems would “deliver operation support for remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft in controlled and uncontrolled airspace,” the coalition, led by AURA Network Systems, said.
“This approach is paramount for the complete ecosystem of third-party service providers, upon which all AAM operators rely,” the letter states.
Other members of the coalition include: The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Merlin Labs, Reliable Robotics, SkyGrid and Wisk Aero.
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