The FAA has played down suggestions in a media report this week that it is instigating fundamental changes to the process for certifying eVTOL aircraft. A story in The Air Current published late on May 9 said that the U.S. regulator is switching to a process in which “powered-lift” eVTOL designs will be certified as a “special class” under its 21.17 (b) regulations, rather than under the 14 CFR Part 23 rules used for most existing smaller fixed-wing aircraft.
In a written response to questions from FutureFlight, the FAA implied that any changes will be more gradual and will not mean a complete abandonment of the Part 23 framework, which eVTOL aircraft developers have been led to believe would be acceptable as the basis for type certification. However, industry groups, including the Vertical Flight Society and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, have expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of clarity on the FAA's intentions.
