The FAA is proposing changes to its regulatory definitions covering air carriers to create scope for including new powered-lift aircraft such as eVTOL models in existing rules. On November 21, the U.S. air safety agency issued a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) covering changes that would allow it to determine how powered-lift aircraft that can’t be categorized as airplanes or rotorcraft could be regulated under its definitions of various types of air carrier operations, including scheduled airline services and on-demand charter.
According to the FAA, the revised definitions represent “an important step toward making commercial air taxi operations a reality,” and it will allow 60 days for industry comments after the NRPM appears in the Federal Register. “This powered-lift definitions rule lays that foundation that will allow operators to use powered-lift aircraft,” the agency said in a written statement. “This is important because our regulations have to cover powered-lift aircraft for them to be able to operate commercially.”
