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AviationAir Taxis: Powered-Lift Takes Off
Twenty flashcards on the FAA powered-lift rules, the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program and the air taxis of Joby and Archer already flying.
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20 cards
- Why is powered-lift a historic category?
- It is the first completely new category of civil aircraft since helicopters arrived in the 1940s.
- When did the FAA issue its powered-lift pilot and operations rule?
- On October 22, 2024.
- How long does the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) in that rule last?
- Ten years.
- What training change does the powered-lift rule allow?
- Training with a single set of flight controls; legacy rules require two, one for the student and one for the instructor.
- Which operating rules apply to powered-lift in some phases of flight?
- Helicopter operating requirements, plus a performance-based approach for certain rules.
- When did the FAA add powered-lift to the air carrier rules?
- In July 2023, alongside airlines, charters and air tours.
- When did the FAA issue vertiport design standards?
- In September 2022.
- Which order set off the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP)?
- Executive Order 14307, Unleashing American Drone Dominance, of June 6, 2025.
- How many eIPP projects were picked, and when?
- Eight public-private projects spanning 28 states, selected on March 9, 2026.
- Who pays for eIPP flights?
- The participants bear their own costs; no federal funding is required, and the flight data goes to the FAA.
- What did each eIPP participant commit to?
- Launching an eIPP flight within 90 days of signing, with aircraft already in an active FAA type-certification project.
- How many flights did the BEYOND drone program log?
- More than 70,000 flights, nearly 48,400 of them beyond visual line of sight.
- What was the first eIPP operation?
- On July 10, BETA's ALIA electric aircraft flight-tested organ transport from Virginia to Maryland.
- What did Joby achieve first in the FAA type-certification process?
- It was the first eVTOL developer to complete the third of five stages, with all its certification plans accepted.
- What is Joby's air taxi designed to carry, and how fast?
- A pilot and four passengers, at up to 200 mph.
- What did Joby begin on November 5, 2025?
- Power-on testing of its first FAA-conforming aircraft for Type Inspection Authorization, the final stage of type certification.
- When did Joby's first FAA-conforming aircraft fly?
- Joby announced it on March 11, 2026: aircraft N547JX, at its Marina, California test facility.
- What was Archer Midnight's longest piloted flight in 2025?
- About 55 miles in 31 minutes, at speeds over 126 mph, from Salinas, California.
- What city-to-city trip did Archer's Midnight fly on July 30?
- A piloted round trip Salinas to Monterey, about 9 minutes per leg versus 35+ minutes by car.
- How far did Joby's autonomy system fly across the United States in 2026?
- 3,199 miles with zero control inputs from the onboard safety pilot, in a converted Cessna Caravan.
Official sources
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
With New Rule, FAA is Ready for Air Travel of the Future (October 22, 2024)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes - Final Rule
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
FAA Role in Advanced Air Mobility
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The eIPP: Accelerating AAM into American Skies
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program is Advancing Aviation's Next Frontier
Joby Aviation
Joby Begins Power-On Testing of First Conforming Aircraft, Enters Final Stage of Type Certification Process
Joby Aviation (investor relations)
Joby's First FAA-Conforming Aircraft Takes Flight
Archer Aviation (investor relations)
Archer Completes 55 Mile Flight - Longest Yet For Piloted Midnight Aircraft
Archer Aviation (investor relations)
Archer's Midnight Completes City-to-City Flights in California Ahead of White House's eIPP
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