The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is prepared for powered-lift aircraft, marking the first entirely new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s. Powered-lift operations will encompass air taxis, cargo delivery and various functions in both urban and rural settings.
The FAA issued a final rule on October 22, outlining the qualifications and training that instructors and pilots must possess to operate aircraft in the “powered-lift” category, which exhibits characteristics of both aeroplanes and helicopters. The rule also covers operational requirements such as minimum safe altitudes and necessary visibility standards. This rule is the final component needed to safely introduce powered-lift aircraft in the near future. The potential uses for powered-lift are extensive, including passenger transport in urban environments, short-haul services like air ambulances and cargo operations, with the possibility of eventually serving smaller communities.
“The FAA will continue to prioritise the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations. This final rule provides the necessary framework to allow powered-lift aircraft to safely operate in our airspace,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “Powered-lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years, and this historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in the future.”
Previously, the FAA determined that powered-lift aircraft could be certified under existing regulations and updated other rules to allow for commercial use of air taxis. Last year, the agency released a blueprint for Urban Air Mobility vehicles, a critical step in advancing the overall AAM concept.
A new pilot training and qualification rule was required because existing regulations did not address this new category of aircraft, which can take-off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like an aeroplane during cruise. The rule provides a comprehensive framework for certifying the initial group of powered-lift instructors and pilots.
The rule includes:
- Amendments to several existing regulations and the establishment of a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) with new requirements for instructor and pilot certification and training.
- Application of helicopter operational requirements to certain phases of flight and a performance-based approach to specific operating rules.
- Permission for pilots to train in powered-lift aircraft with a single set of flight controls, whereas older rules required two sets – one for the student and one for the instructor.
