Industry Stakeholders Take On the FAA

Welcome to the Future of Flying newsletter, the weekly overview of the most significant stories of the latest in aviation technology. From low-altitude drones to high-flying rockets flying at the edge of the sky, We’ll take you through an adventure through the contemporary flying space to help you to understand what’s happening.

Here’s this week’s top news:

FAA Powered-Lift Pilot Plan Takes Flak From Industry

Too many hoursWhile it was the FAA’s proposed applicants obtain a powered-lift category rating before pursuing one The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), as well as seven other associations, suggested that training should be credited to existing certificates for helicopters and airplanes. This would remove some requirements based on hours, which they say should be smaller.

The industry also demanded that the FAA remove the requirement that eVTOL producers create and maintain a dual-control model for pilot training. Instead, they argued for giving more credit to training conducted in simulators and making the simulator models more suitable to instruct.

Let eVTOLs be called eVTOLs: Another of the industry’s concerns revolved around eVTOL’s operational rules that the FAA requires to be like the rules for airplanes. However, the industry’s stakeholders claimed that the aircraft, which can take off, land, and operate like helicopters, do not conform to the rules for a particular aircraft type.

Instead, they recommended applying helicopter and airplane rules for eVTOL flights as needed. In particular, they should be subject to the helicopter’s minimum visibility requirements. However, they should be treated like airplanes when they fly over water. Also, make eVTOLs EVTOLs.

Short quote: “These restrictions are an immediate result of FAA changes to this rulemaking, as well as the contents in the proposed SFAR,” GAMA said.

My view: There are many, numerous additional criticisms in the letter from the industry, which I couldn’t find enough space for in this article. The parties involved have a different perspective on pilot training for powered lift and certification than the FAA’s.

In essence, the organizations believe that the proposed rules must be revised and could hinder the process for the first eVTOL instructors and pilots to emerge. They also are concerned about the effects on manufacturers, who they believe will be able to shoulder too much material and financial burden under the FAA’s plans.

This degree of political coordination is rare for general aviation. If it does happen, it is expected to produce outcomes. Several of these organizations (GAMA particularly) have a massive influence at Capitol Hill, and their suggestions are the basis of the final rules.

What’s the matter? China’s DJI, which controls 50-70 percent of the worldwide marketplace for consumer drones, recently released the first drone for delivery, FlyCart 30. It is named after its 30 kg (66 pounds) weight; this brand-new design has unique capabilities.

The specs are: FlyCart 30 is an eight-propeller, four-axis multirotor design powered by two batteries that can fly 10 miles at around 45 mph at full load. It isn’t affected by bad weather; the drone can fly through dust or light rain and at higher altitudes. It also has an advanced “anti-sway” system to maintain an even flight path in the wind.

Another unique feature is the dual-control feature that allows several pilots at different locations to manage FlyCart 30 at various points during the mission. The device also comes with two delivery methods: a conventional cargo box or crane with a winch that lowers the items out of the air.