With the rise of electric low-altitude aircraft, the United States plans to introduce rules for training and certification of "air taxi" pilots.
CTOnews.com, June 8 (Reuters)-the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said yesterday that it was proposing comprehensive pilot training and certification rules for flying taxis and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), which are also seen as the future of urban air traffic.
▲ source: Joby Aviation official website low-altitude urban aircraft has aroused strong interest in various countries, and many eVTOL companies have taken advantage of the tuyere to go public. New rules are needed to regulate these aircraft, FAA said, because many similar aircraft take off and land vertically like helicopters, but fly more like ordinary civilian airliners.
FAA proposes to develop rules based on the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization to enable American pilots to operate in other countries.
Many companies, including airlines, are considering developing transportation services using battery-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically to transport passengers to airports or travel short distances within the city to avoid traffic jams.
In May, FAA released plans to update its aviation regulations to accommodate future air taxis. Last year, FAA issued a proposal to update the definition of "air carrier" by adding eVTOL operations to regulations that cover other commercial operations, such as regular airliners, charter flights, and air travel.
According to FAA's plan, air taxi operators will use existing routes and infrastructure, such as helipads and vertical take-off and landing fields. FAA expects the first eVTOL to begin commercial operation by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
Last year, FAA issued airworthiness standards that Joby Aviation, an air taxi start-up, must meet in order for its related businesses to be certified. Delta Airlines earlier announced a $60 million investment in Joby to establish a partnership aimed at providing passengers with air taxi services to and from New York and Los Angeles airports within a few years.
