Are
you ready for a new airline category? The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ready for powered lift, which will be
the first completely new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were
introduced in the 1940s.
Powered
lift operations include air taxis, cargo delivery and a variety of operations
within urban and rural areas.
The
FAA this summer approved
the development of an app for an air taxi. The concept is becoming closer
to reality.
The
agency issued a final rule for the qualifications and training that
instructors and pilots must have to fly aircraft in this “powered-lift”
category, which have characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters.
The
rule also addresses their operational requirements, including minimum safe
altitudes and required visibility. The rule is the final piece in the puzzle
for safely introducing these aircraft in the near term. The opportunities for
the use of powered lift operations are far reaching, from transporting
passengers in urban areas and short-haul operations such as air ambulance
services and cargo operations to potentially serving smaller communities over
time.
“The
FAA will continue to prioritize 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.
The
FAA previously determined it could certify powered-lift using existing
regulations and updated other regulations so air taxis could be used
commercially. Last year the agency released a blueprint for how
Urban Air Mobility vehicles will operate, which is a key element in maturing
the overall AAM concept.
A
new pilot training and qualifications rule was needed 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 airplane during cruise
flight. The rule provides a comprehensive framework for certifying the initial
cadre of powered-lift instructors and pilots.
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