Feds OK rules for U.S. to begin electric air taxi service
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Joby's vertical flight aircraft. Photo courtesy of Joby
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday issued long-awaited rules that will help pave the way for the commercialization of electric air taxis as soon as next year.
Why it matters: This new form of transportation, known as "advanced air mobility," represents the biggest innovation in aviation since the jet age and could revolutionize how people move within and between cities.
Driving the news: FAA Administrator Mike Whittaker announced the final regulation during a speech at a business aviation convention in Las Vegas.
- It includes qualifications and training requirements for pilots of these new aircraft which have characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters.
- The rule also addresses operational requirements, including minimum safe altitudes and required visibility.
- The rule is "the final piece in the puzzle" for safely introducing these new aircraft to the U.S. airspace, he said.
The big picture: Vertical flight planes are the first new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s.
- They can be used for air taxis, cargo delivery and a variety of other uses in urban and rural areas, including emergency response.
Between the lines: The planes take off and land like a helicopter and then switch modes to fly like a fixed wing plane.
- Since they are neither fish nor fowl, they require their own set of operating rules and training requirements.
What they're saying: Congressional leaders and industry officials praised the FAA for ensuring the U.S. is in a position to maintain its leadership in global aviation.
- "When you add a new entrant into the national airspace, there are always going to be complications. But we need to do it in a timely manner and we we need to do it on a safe basis," said Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told reporters in Las Vegas.
What's next: With the new rule in place, companies like Joby and Archer aim to begin operations as early as 2025, once their aircraft have been certified.
