Discreet tensions over the timetable for finalizing the regulatory framework for type certification of eVTOL aircraft surfaced during this week’s Forum 76 conference organized by the Vertical Flight Society. In an October 8 virtual roundtable, Mark Moore, Uber Elevate’s engineering director of aviation, said he is increasingly eager for the FAA to publish its long-anticipated Special Conditions guidelines for eVTOL type certification. In the same discussion, he repeated his concern that regulators may be aspiring to an unreasonably high safety benchmark for the new category of aircraft.
“Every day, I’m holding my breath for the Federal Register to show the special conditions basis for eVTOL developers,” said Moore, who is leading technical aspects of the ride-hailing giant’s plans to launch its Uber Air taxi network. “Such great work has been done with Amendment 64 and Part 23 [regulations] and there is consensus, but we’ve got to open up the path clearly and publicly, and I’m disappointed that this hasn’t happened yet. The industry will be blocked until we push this through.”
