FAA Issues Final Rule for Powered-Lift Aircraft: A Major Milestone for eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility

Industry Leaders React to New Pilot and Operational Standards as the U.S. Takes a Critical Step Toward Scaling eVTOL and AAM Innovations

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab

The Federal Aviation Administration’s recent issuance of the final draft of its Special Federal Aviation Regulation for powered lift aircraft regulations has drawn comment and positive reactions from across the industry.

According to the press release, the FAA “…today issued a final rule for the qualifications and training that instructors and pilots must have to fly aircraft in this “powered-lift” category, which have characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters.” The new rule also clarifies their operational requirements, including minimum safe altitudes and required visibility.

While industry insiders say that the ruling still leaves some questions unanswered, the issuance of the rule represents a significant milestone in the development of the AAM industry.

Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Systems International (AUVSI) said, “This performance-based rule is a critical step forward in enabling the eVTOL-segment of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry to launch and scale. We applaud the FAA for issuing the regulation in compliance with Congressionally mandated timelines and making changes from the draft rule to the final rule that ensure the U.S. will maintain global leadership in this critical segment of advanced aviation. This is a tremendous milestone, and there is much to celebrate with this rule.

Looking ahead, it is imperative that FAA and the AAM industry work in lockstep to apply lessons learned from operations unlocked under the SFAR to inform long-term rulemaking that enables the integration of safe and routine AAM operations in the airspace. We can’t yet consider this ‘mission accomplished’ for U.S. leadership in advanced aviation – much work remains to be done. AUVSI stands ready to work closely with the FAA to ensure the fullest benefits of eVTOL and other AAM aircraft can be realized — including decreased emissions and noise pollution and increased access to multi-modal transport hubs and connectivity for rural communities.”

The National Air Transportation Association, another key industry group, were equally positive about the newly released standards. “NATA welcomes the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) timely release of the final rule for the “Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations” Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), a productive first step in the deployment of AAM technology within the general aviation landscape and a powerful compliment to aviation industry goals. The release provides a pathway to open dialogue between operators, OEMS, and other industry stakeholders with FAA regulators. NATA continues to support the AAM industry’s push towards aligning certification, training, and requirements with ICAO standards and recommendations. The Association will analyze the rule and looks forward to continuing collaboration with our members and the Agency on next steps,” stated NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. “NATA’s collaborative work with our Board and committee network across all aviation business sectors allows us to maintain a leadership role in the industry’s push for investment in infrastructure necessary to support innovation development.”

“We applaud the FAA for their timely delivery of a safe path forward for pilot certification and operations of powered lift aircraft,” said Kristen Costello, BETA Technologies’ Regulatory Affairs Lead. “It’s an important and encouraging step for the industry. We look forward to reviewing it in depth and working alongside our customers to operationalize it.” Beta Technologies believes that their ALIA eVTOL is the only unit the FAA has ever flown.

Billy Nolen, former Acting Administrator of the FAA and currently Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer at Archer Aviation, an AUVSI member company, agreed, saying, “We appreciate the FAA’s continued partnership and proactive approach to advancing the eVTOL industry with today’s release of the final powered-lift SFAR. This comes ahead of schedule and incorporates key feedback from across the industry. This is yet another foundational element toward our goal of the U.S. leading the way in commercializing UAM. We’ll continue to formulate our operational plans to align to this final rule.”

The FAA first issued its draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in June 2023, opening it up for public comment. According to their press release, AUVSI submitted comments urging the FAA to make changes to the draft rule to bring it in line with international approaches and to meet the specific safety-based needs of eVTOL pilots and operators.

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