FAA Rule Changes Could Accelerate U.S. eVTOL Certification (Joby)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on the brink of implementing transformational rule changes designed to streamline the certification process for electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Among the principal beneficiaries stands Joby Aviation, a front-runner in the nascent urban air mobility sector. Historically, achieving FAA type certification for radically new aircraft designs has entailed multi-year timelines, extensive flight testing, and iterative negotiations over special conditions. The proposed updates promise to modernize airworthiness standards, codify acceptable means of compliance for electric propulsion, and embrace advanced simulation techniques—potentially shrinking certification schedules by up to two years. For Joby, which aims to launch commercial air taxi services as early as 2025, these regulatory reforms could mean the difference between pioneering urban eVTOL travel and watching competitors seize first-mover advantage.
