FAA Issues Final Rule For "Powered-Lift" Rating, Paves Way For Air Taxis Over US Cities
Well wonders never cease I wrote an article back last Fall where the FAA was scheduled to approve Flying Taxis' by 2028 and here we are October of 2024 and we have a greenlight! The FAA has unlocked the first powerlift off rule since the 1940's. Specifically this rule deals with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to fly in controlled airspace across America.
What does the new FAA Power-lift rule describe:
- Allows pilots to train in powered-lift with a single set of flight controls; legacy rules require two flight controls – one for the student and one for the instructor.
- Applies helicopter operating requirements to some phases of flight and adopts a performance-based approach to certain operating rules.
- Makes changes to numerous existing regulations and establishes a Special Federal Aviation Regulation with new requirements to facilitate instructor and pilot certification and training.
What's inferred by this ruling?
Flying cars must abide by the FAA's Visual Flight Rules (VRF) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). In other words, the pilot in control will need a pilot license and be rated in the powered lift category. Wondering how many kids are dreaming of this as a career right now?
Will Flying crafts bring congestion to America Airways?
A curious question, which begs me to ask the question. How quickly do we see rollout of these types of offerings? One can assume that the Ultra-wealthy will be first to market with these types as they were with helicopters and aircrafts of all sizes. Taxi and shuttle services would be for metro and large cities for certain. I do not envision a lot of airway congestion in rural areas unless there is a large festival or something bringing a surge in traffic, perhaps Coachella and Burning man would be great examples of spike in area traffic.
My blog Cadillac Fly Car for the Wealthy back in 2021 showing how these R&D efforts will be shaping our future.
Will they accept Crypto?
I was not able to find anything leading me to think they have thought through accepting Crypto. However, there is still time for them to lay the groundwork for such forward thinking!
Need to get up to snuff quickly on eVTOL / Air Taxi's? Here are my older posts:
- FAA Prepares US For Flying Taxi Operations By 2028 Aug 2023
- Switchblade - sky vehicle Aug 2022
- US Flying Car Era Begins July 2022
- Worlds First Vertiport opens in UK May 2022
- Passenger Drone Bus & Taxi Services June 2021
- Flying Taxi's coming to Orlando, FL Nov 2020
Summary
Flying cars, autonomous taxi's sounds like a SciFi dream to some and a nightmare to others. Either way our future is shaping up differently! I have to believe there are several unintended consequences that must be addressed before we experience major pains from adopting these types of evolutions.
Credit - Blog image Joby - all rights remain
