The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published an initial regulatory framework for the operation of air taxis in cities, the first comprehensive proposal for such regulations issued worldwide.
The proposed new regulatory framework is open for public consultation until September 30, 2022 and contains rules for the enabling of air mobility with VTOL-capable manned aircraft, the initial airworthiness of unmanned aircraft systems subject to certification (according to the article 40 of EU Delegated Regulation 2019/945), and the continued airworthiness of those unmanned aircraft systems operated in the 'specific' category. It covers the technical domains of airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing, and rules of the air.
They complement the existing EU regulatory material for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations, the unmanned traffic management system known in Europe as U-space and the certification of aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. , as well as the EASA guide on the design of vertiports.
“With this, EASA becomes the first aviation regulator in the world to publish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the operations of VTOL-capable aircraft, which will offer air taxi and similar services,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “The publication reinforces the leadership that EASA has been showing in this area of innovation. At the same time, we have done our best to address general societal concerns and expectations of EU citizens regarding safety, privacy, the environment and noise."
Manufacturers in Europe have indicated to EASA that they will be ready for VTOL aircraft certification in the coming years. These aircraft will enable new concepts of air mobility within the framework of the 'smart, green and digital' cities initiative led by the European Commission.
The latest EASA proposals will establish a harmonized set of regulations and rules at EU level for this new air mobility of people and cargo.
The general objective is to promote the development of a new ecosystem for urban air mobility (UAM), to achieve the safe integration of certified and VTOL-capable UAS aircraft operations in the EU, and allow UAS operators to operate safely VTOL capable.
In developing its proposals for new rules for different types of aircraft designs and operations, EASA applies a step-by-step approach that is closely aligned with current developments in the aviation industry. As such, certain future developments (for example, VTOL-capable aircraft without a human pilot on board) are not yet covered in this proposal. They will be addressed by EASA with separate proposals when necessary and in line with technological progress.
EASA introduces the following concepts in order to standardize communication on
the matter at European Union level, and to be used for the development of future requirements (regulations and standards):
— Innovative Air Services (IAS): the set of operations and/or services that benefit citizens and the aviation market, and that are enabled by new airborne technologies; operations and/or services include both passenger and/or cargo transportation and air operations (for example, surveillance, inspections, mapping, telecommunications networks, etc.).
- Innovative Air Mobility (IAM): the safe, secure and sustainable air mobility of passengers and cargo enabled by new generation technologies integrated into a multimodal transport system.
— Urban Air Mobility (UAM): the subset of IAM operations carried out to, within or outside surrounding urban areas.
— VTOL Capable Aircraft: A heavier-than-air, mechanically propelled aircraft, other than an airplane or rotorcraft, capable of vertical takeoffs and landings by means of lift or thrust units used to provide lift during takeoff and landing.
You can consult the proposed regulatory framework at the following link:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/downloads/136705/en
Taking all of the above into account, it seems that the deadlines given by some manufacturers who are betting on urban air mobility and air taxis may seem unrealistic, without analyzing demand. At the moment, the most advanced companies are already in the process of certifying their VTOL aircraft. Among them, in Europe are Airbus, Lilium, Volocopter, Ehang, Xpeng HT Aero, Vertical Aerospace or Umiles (in collaboration with Tecnalia), for example.
