The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule for the qualifications and training that instructors and pilots must have, in order to fly “powered lift” aircraft.
These aircraft are under the first completely new aircraft category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s, with the category including air taxis, cargo delivery and a variety of operations within urban and rural areas.
The new pilot-training and qualifications rule was needed because existing regulations did not address this new category of aircraft, which can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like an airplane during cruise flight
“The FAA will continue to prioritize the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations. This final rule provides the necessary framework to allow powered lift aircraft to safely operate in our airspace,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.
He continued: “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.”
The new category, which has characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters, also addresses their operational requirements, including minimum safe altitudes and required visibility.
Gregory Speier, a transportation partner at global law firm Reed Smith, commented: “This is an exciting time for the industry. The FAA’s announcement of this final rule is a major milestone in the U.S., as it introduces the first new category of civil aircraft in nearly 80 years. The rule demonstrates the FAA’s commitment to this new category of aircraft – which have flight characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters – for operation in the U.S. national airspace."
He went on to say: “While this final rule clears a giant hurdle for powered-lift operations and accompanying pilot rules, there remains a missing piece to the puzzle: many powered-lift operations will still require a type-certified aircraft that has been produced in compliance with a production certificate. Although a few eVTOL manufacturers are progressing in the FAA’s type certification process, that process remains ongoing.”
The rule also establishes a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), which contains new requirements to facilitate instructors’ ability to help new powered-lift pilots with their requirements. For example, powered-lift pilots will now be able to train with a single set of flight controls.