Enabling advanced air mobility

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 advanced air mobility 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 engineering 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

A working group comprised of stakeholders and representatives from industry has been established to support our policy teams and other subject matter experts tasked with developing policy and regulation pertaining to vertiports.

The project comprises four key elements when developing this new style of aerodrome including vertiport design, obstacle limitation surfaces/ volume, visual aids and rescue and firefighting services (RFFS).

Other areas of discussions will include vertiport licencing, Safety Management Systems (SMS) and emergency planning/emergency orders (ERP).

Stakeholders wishing to be a part of this group can do so by applying.

A working group has been established to support our policy teams and other subject matter experts.

The group will provide an initial assessment of the obstacles to overcome to create the most expeditious, robust and future proof method to safely integrate Multicopters, VCA aircraft systems and gyrocopters into the Air Ops Regulations for Commercial Air Transport (CAT), Non-commercial Operation with Complex Motor-powered Aircraft (NCC) or Specialized Operations (SPO).

Stakeholders wishing to be a part of this group can do so by applying here.