The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published rules for the operation of air taxis in cities, the first comprehensive proposal for such regulations to be issued world-wide.
They complement existing EU regulatory material for the certification of aircraft capable of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and guidance on the design of vertiports, as well operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and the unmanned traffic management system known in Europe as U-space.
The proposed new regulatory framework is open to public consultation until September 30, 2022, and cover the technical domains of airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing and rules of the air.
According to EASA, manufacturers in Europe have signalled to EASA that they will be ready for certification of eVTOL aircraft in the next few years, and that´s why the agency is working on a harmonised set of regulations and rules at EU level for the creation of a new ecosystem of Urban Air Mobility.
“The publication reinforces the leadership EASA is showing in this area of innovation. At the same time, we have done our best to address general societal concerns and the expectations of EU citizens with respect to safety, security, privacy, environment and noise.”
EASA.