The first of some 30 electric and hybrid-electric aircraft being developed for advanced air mobility (AAM) applications could achieve type certification this year, according to Jay Merkle, executive director of the FAA’s integration office for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). He said that two or three other aircraft are close behind this front runner and that seven companies developing propulsion systems for this category of aircraft are also working with the U.S. agency on certification.
Speaking in the opening session of the Vertical Flight Society’s 8th Annual Electric VTOL Symposium on January 26, Merkle did not specify which type of aircraft is likely to be first. However, given that means of compliance for eVTOL designs are not yet fully defined by the FAA, it seems likely that it would be one of several fixed-wing eCTOL or eSTOL aircraft in development since their performance is a closer fit with the agency’s existing rules.
