Air taxi certification times could be unrealistic: US government report

A US government report suggests certification of electric air taxis could take longer than some manufacturers are promising, citing formidable hurdles yet to be overcome. The report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) says industry goals of having electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft certificated within one to five years may be unrealistic. The FAA may “not have clear standards for how to certificate these aircraft, and the development of clear standards may extend well beyond this timeframe”, says the report, released 9 June. The GAO’s findings are based on interviews with various parties involved in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market, including manufacturers, local governments, unions, universities and air traffic managers. Electric air taxis are a central component of the AAM concept. Despite timeline uncertainty, the report says many industry participants do expect some small electric aircraft may be operating in the next five years – though in limited numbers and few locations. Broader expansion will depend on overcoming numerous regulatory, technical and social challenges. The report says air-taxi technology “may pose difficulties for certificating”, adding that “much work remains in order to certificate eVTOL aircraft for commercial service”. Most air taxi developers have been pursuing certification under the FAA’s Part 23 rules, which apply to small commuter aircraft. But those rules, written for fixed-wing aircraft, do not fully apply to characteristics unique to eVTOLs, such as their electric propulsion systems and ability to transition between vertical and horizontal flight, the GAO report notes.<br/>