Update: The FAA published regulations on Oct. 22, 2024, that outline pilot certification and operations for “powered-lift” aircraft (aka, winged eVTOL aircraft). The final rule, “Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes,” included permanent amendments to FAA regulations and also established a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for 10 years “to facilitate the certification of powered-lift pilots, clarify operating rules applicable to operations involving a powered lift [aircraft], and finalize other amendments which are necessary to integrate powered-lift.” The affected sections of Title 14 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) are Parts 1, 11, 43, 60, 61, 91, 97, 111, 135, 136, 141, 142 and 194.
Responding to the comments received on the draft SFAR (see below), the FAA stated that the final rule “provides clarification for certain operating rules and adopts a performance-based approach to certain operating rules.”
2023 Draft SFAR for Powered-Lift Pilot Certifications and Operations
The Vertical Flight Society worked with several other associations and provided feedback to the FAA on the proposed Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR) on "Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations," by the deadline of Aug. 14, 2023. The degree of consensus on the major issues of the SFAR was very gratifying.
Read the VFS Comments on the SFAR. VFS and several other non-profits endorsed the comments submitted by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) — see below. VFS also signed a Joint Association Letter from AIA, AUVSI, HAI, NATA, NBAA, and VFS
In addition, on Aug. 10, VFS Director of Strategy Mike Hirschberg, published a commentary on Forbes.com, "FAA Should Heed 1990s Powered-Lift Training Decision, noting that "The agency's proposed dual-control requirement for AAM fails to learn from the success of the F-35B program."
A Vertiflite article on the SFAR expanded upon the offically submitted VFS comments: Industry Vets FAA’s Powered-Lift SFAR.
For background on the FAA's Powered-Lift certification decision, please see the VFS Commentary: FAA Changes Course on eVTOL Certification, Vertiflite, July-Aug 2022.
Association comments submitted to the docket:
- ADS Group (UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space trade group)
- Advanced Air Mobility Institute (AAMI)
- Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA)
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
- Airlines for America (A4A)
- Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
- General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
- Helicopter Association International (HAI)
- Joint Association Letter from AIA, AUVSI, HAI, NATA, NBAA, and VFS
- National Air Transportation Association (NATA)
- National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
- SAE International
- Vertical Flight Society (aka American Helicopter Society International, Inc.)
Company comments submitted to the docket:
- Alakai Technologies Corporation
- Archer Aviation
- Airbus Helicopters
- Airbus Helicopters
- AIR VEV
- ASR-Pioneer
- BETA Technologies
- Bristow Group Inc.
- CAE
- Electra.aero
- Ferrovial Vertiports
- Joby Aviation
- L3Harris
- Leonardo Helicopters
- Lilium GmbH
- LTDA and Embraer S.A.
- Sabrewing Aircraft Co.
- Supernal, LLC
- UPS Freight Forward
- Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd.
- Wisk Aero
- XTI Aircraft Company
Government comments submitted to the docket:
Posted Aug. 15, 2023; updated Oct. 29, 2024