Federal regulators gave strong incentives to go electric Air taxis On Tuesday it released a final rule on how pilots will be trained to fly them.
Chairman of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike WhittakerHe said fate It recognizes air taxis as an entirely new type of aircraft that will soon join airplanes and helicopters in the skies.
These planes Take off and land vertically like helicopters, but fly like fixed wings. Many companies Work is underway to get them on the market, but they are hampered by a lack of clarity about the regulations governing their use.
Whittaker said FAA Emphasis on safety in the process of deploying a new aircraft in the country’s airspace. “Manufactured-lift aircraft” are the first new type of aircraft in nearly 80 years since the advent of helicopters, he said, and the rule would allow for their widespread use.
Air taxi proponents call it a clean alternative to jet fuel-burning passenger planes. However, so far, current technology limits their size and means they are mostly used in urban areas. Companies imagine transporting people and goods.
One of the companies in the new field, California-based Joby Aviation, praised the FAA regulation. CEO Joe Ben Bevirt He said the rules would “ensure that the United States continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean aviation.”
Airlines see air taxis as a way to deliver passengers to airports. Delta Air Lines said it would be in 2022 $60 million investment In Jobi, Toyota announced this month $500 million investment. United Airlines supports another California-based company, Archer Aviation Order for 200 aircraft Archer said it would be worth $1 billion with an option for another $500 million.
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This story has been corrected to show the news was reported on Tuesday, not Wednesday.
