FAA Role in Advanced Air Mobility
This new era of aviation will succeed only if it is safely integrated into our National Airspace System (NAS), just like aircraft flying in the United States are today. That's the FAA's job: making sure this new generation of aircraft maintains the high level of safety that defines modern aviation. The FAA has updated its regulations to allow powered-lift aircraft to operate safely in the NAS. The FAA holds authority over the operation of all aircraft in the NAS and a clear mandate to ensure public safety, including the safe integration of new entrants.
Pilot and Instructor Certification
The FAA issued its final rule for powered-lift operations in October 2024. This rule outlined pilot and instructor certification requirements as well as operational rules. The operational rules are performance-based, so the appropriate regulation applies to the aircraft in the powered-lift category based on its flight characteristics. See also the FAQs page for this final rule.
Aircraft Certification
The FAA has an existing regulatory framework that allows manufacturers to meet safety standards in innovative ways. When tailoring existing rules to a new concept, the FAA determines the certification requirements for powered-lift by evaluating its design, production, airworthiness, and operation. Some certifications could require the FAA to establish additional airworthiness criteria, depending on the type of project. We use the same data-driven approach that has created the safest aviation system in the world when evaluating these complex systems.)
Operation Certification & Framework
Many of these new aircraft take off vertically, like a helicopter, transition to winged flight, like an airplane, for flying, and then transition back to vertical flight for landing.
We're able to certificate operators who want to use powered-lift for commercial flights. In July 2023, the FAA issued a final rule that updates the air carrier definition to add “powered-lift” operations to the regulations covering other commercial operations, such as airlines, charters, and air tours.
Whole of FAA approach
Integrating an entirely new category of civil aircraft demands teamwork across the entire FAA.
The Office of Advanced Aviation Technologies (AAT) was established because the FAA recognized the importance of these emerging technologies—and the critical role the Office plays in helping integrate them safely into the NAS. It works across the FAA and in close collaboration with industry partners to support the safe and secure integration of technologies such as AAM and other emerging aviation concepts and capabilities into the NAS.
We expect that initial AAM vehicles will use existing infrastructure such as helipads, routes, and air traffic control services where possible. In September 2022, the FAA issued vertiport design standards to serve as a foundation for safely building infrastructure in this new era. Expanding the national airspace network offers an opportunity to modernize urban and regional infrastructure. To support high-volume flight operations, the FAA is partnering with industry leaders to integrate high-speed charging systems, build modern ground-support hubs, and design seamless passenger-movement areas, while prioritizing a secure, robust digital infrastructure that enables next-generation data service providers to stream critical, real-time flight information directly to operators.
Initial operations will be much like the existing service today. As operations scale, we will establish corridors for these vehicles and set rules for communicating with air traffic control when necessary. The FAA issued a blueprint for AAM operations in and around urban areas in May 2023.
Tabletop exercises help the FAA assess operational assumptions, identify safe routes, and develop procedures for integrating eVTOL operations at vertiports nationwide. Tabletop exercises were recently held at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Houston International Airport (IAH).
We’re working with partners in government and industry to safely integrate AAM into the NAS. One key initiative, Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) simulations, helps us explore how eVTOL aircraft can best share airspace and airport facilities with traditional aircraft. The future of aviation is closer than you think and HITLs help ensure that as AAM evolves, it does so safely and seamlessly.
Together, tabletops and HITLs inform use cases and enable the FAA to take steps to address near-term AAM operations and future, more mature operations. For more information about Tabletops and HITLs, contact us at AAT-Partnerships-Engagement@faa.gov.