Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) work is developing new, environmentally friendly aircraft designs to move people and goods and often involves electric powered vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These technologies have the potential to benefit UK consumers and contribute to the UK’s Jet Zero objectives.
Introducing these new aircraft and operations involves significant work. Gaining regulatory approval for new aircraft with new powerplants and new styles of operation means regulations and approval mechanisms must adapt. Innovators are also learning how to integrate within the traditional national and international aviation frameworks.
As the UK aviation regulator, we are adapting to work in new ways to engage and regulate the AAM industry. This requires access to relevant expertise whilst improving our ability to stay abreast of this fast-moving industry. As with much innovation, the timescales industry sets are challenging, and it is important that we address all the challenges and activities as a whole and in a logical order to enable the safe introduction of Advanced Air Mobility as quickly as possible.
In response to the challenges and opportunities, together with the Department for Transport, we have launched an AAM programme with the aim of:
- Making sure the right public and consumer safety protections are in place;
- Developing a clear understanding of what regulations, policies and other support is needed to enable initial commercial passenger carrying electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) operations in 2026 and beyond and putting in place a strategy to enable this;
- Providing clarity to stakeholders on what is achievable by the proposed target date of 2026 and beyond from a regulatory perspective and giving stakeholders the confidence that we will deliver on our commitments.
External Dependencies impacting the introduction of Advanced Air Mobility include:
- Progress by equipment manufacturers in resolving certification challenges, including demonstration of required safety criteria, and maintaining sufficient investment;
- Industry, local and central government investment into infrastructure to support these new operations, including battery charging infrastructure;
- Local authority engagement, acceptance and planning processes to deal with these new proposals;
- Demand from consumers for these new operations and wider public acceptance. These will determine the growth / scaling of the industry;
- Progress and alignment of international standards and certification approaches
- Factor in the impact of an expanding / developing sector on our ability to attract and retain relevant expertise to complete our work.
Please see below for more information on our ongoing work and “Updates and guidance from our innovation team” section for the latest publications.
Ongoing Work
Vertiports:
The CAA have concluded a consultation vertiport design proposals for existing aerodromes. Comments from this consultation will inform our final design proposals that will form the requirements to supplement and are expected to be published in July 2024.
Statements on VTOL aircraft
Following four calls for input, we have now published our responses to comments submitted as part of a call for feedback on the following topics:
Our Approach
We believe there will be an incremental approach to the introduction of eVTOL aircraft. Matching demand from manufacturers means we will initially focus on operations by piloted aircraft using the current airspace infrastructure and mainly from current aerodromes.
This will enable the entire aviation system to gain experience of the new sector, resulting in a greater understanding of how eVTOL flying can be safely and successfully integrated. It will also inform and direct our concurrent work on integrating larger volumes of AAM flying in the future.
The technology is new and still developing so we are engaging with industry, government, academia, and other regulators to investigate the risks and possible mitigations that result.
We will use the existing UK rules and regulations where possible and we will work with other international regulators and states (and where applicable international standards development organisations), to develop new rules where necessary.
We will adopt what is appropriate for the UK but in doing so be fully aware that harmonisation enhances safety and increases efficiency for industry and regulators. In line with this approach, we are reviewing existing UK rules and conducting gap analyses to those of EASA, FAA, ICAO, and others.
In all our work we will keep an open mind, evolve and be willing to adapt.
We will seek to embed the highly successful safety management and just cultures of traditional commercial aviation into the new AAM sector.
We will fully consult on new rules and engage stakeholders as we develop our policies and be open and clear about our actions and plans.
We are working with colleagues across industry and government to deliver the regulatory frameworks and certification that will enable the next generation of aircraft to be developed and operated in UK airspace, while continuing to protect the public and other aviation users from harm.
To develop appropriate policy, guidance and/or regulations so stakeholders are clear on UK requirements for eVTOL and similar operations workstreams will be:
- Initial airworthiness certification requirements for VTOL aircraft
- Pilot and engineer training, competency, and licensing
- Ground infrastructure design and operational requirements for aerodromes and vertiports
- Safety and operational responsibilities and the requirements for obtaining and maintaining an Air Operators Certificate and operating licence
- Aviation security and cyber security
- Ongoing airworthiness and maintenance requirements for eVTOL aircraft
- Integration into current and future traffic management services in line with our Airspace Modernisation Strategy
- Consumer principles
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