Global regulators unite to fast-track AAM certification
A joint roadmap seeking to advance the certification of electric and other Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft has been published by aviation authorities in the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The document sets out a shared framework for the type certification of AAM aircraft, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, aiming to ensure safety while speeding up approvals.
The Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft Type Certification outlines how regulators intend to align on airworthiness standards, pool technical data, and coordinate certification processes in a sector that is evolving rapidly and across borders.
The roadmap was developed collaboratively by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada (TC), the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA).
‘Paving the way for the future of urban mobility’
Sophie O’Sullivan, director of Future of Flight at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “This roadmap is part of our work to enable new technology into our skies and support the growth of the UK aerospace industry.
“It marks a significant milestone in the evolution of bilateral partnerships to meet the challenges of emerging aviation technology. It allows us to share data, research and safety information while also collaborating and sharing our expertise.
“While for manufacturers and operators, it aims to reduce the certification burden once aircraft have received a type certificate and allow them faster entry to multiple countries through harmonised airworthiness standards.
“By working together, we can ensure that the introduction of AAM aircraft is both safe and efficient, paving the way for the future of urban mobility.”
Type certification confirms that an aircraft design complies with established safety and airworthiness requirements.
For conventional aircraft, this process typically begins in the country of design, where a certificate is issued based on internationally accepted criteria.
Other regulators then validate that certificate before the aircraft can enter service in their jurisdictions.
The arrival of novel aircraft configurations like eVTOLs, however, has led to diverging regulatory approaches worldwide. The new roadmap recognises these emerging differences and seeks to provide a common path forward.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in aviation as we work to integrate new technologies safely,” said FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau.
“Enabling the integration of new entrants is a priority and we’re committed to doing whatever we can to foster innovation while also staying true to our safety mission.”
By aligning national requirements and working towards shared standards, the regulators aim to avoid duplication and ease the process for manufacturers entering multiple markets.
The group said it would also look to “broaden this cooperation to include other countries as part of a truly global collaborative effort”.
30,000 eVTOLs in service by 2045
Publication of the roadmap comes in the same week that Eve Air Mobility revealed its first Global Market Outlook, offering a look at how electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft are expected to reshape urban transportation over the next two decades.
The report, launched ahead of Eve’s showcase at the 2025 Paris Air Show, predicts rapid growth in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector, with electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft forecast to become a mainstream mode of travel in densely populated regions worldwide.
Compiled using data from 1,800 cities, 1,000 airports and over 27,000 civil helicopters currently in operation, the analysis paints a picture of a fast-developing market that could see 30,000 eVTOLs in service by 2045, transporting up to three billion passengers and generating $280 billion in revenue.
