Uncertainty Looms For Service Entry Of eVTOLs eVTOLs are still new to the aviation sector and besides pioneering and adapting current battery technologies and also being limited by it there are also many hurdles regarding regulatory, classification and infrastructural facets needed to be overcome. Additionally, many of the manufacturers are running out of cash to continually finance the development and certification of their respective aircraft. These and other factors have culminated to serve as roadblocks to a concrete entry into service for eVTOLs.
In China, EHang with their E216-S has been one of the first eVTOL manufacturers to be certified. Even so and with their aggressive delivery schedule, there is still no Air Operators Certificates that its operators and clients have for the operation of their eVTOL. While orders are still coming in for EHang the regulatory framework for allowing an AOC is plaguing its use. The company has had to have special permits and licensing to operate certain public flights like for demonstrations and airshows etc.
Other companies that are no where near what EHang has been able to achieve so far are facing other issues. For example, UK's Vertical Aerospace with their VX4 in 2023 initially pushed back their entry into service from 2025 to 2026 and now on November 12th the company announced that they are again pushing back service entry from 2026 to 2028...creating a “Flightpath 2030” strategy towards service entry. This alone suggests alot of uncertainty to the timeline. Vertical also faces a financing crunch but remains optimistic that it will garner funding to support its operations into 2025.
Lilium in Germany manufacturer of the Lilium Jet eVTOL recently was on the brink of collapse. Several factors led to this positioning including the German government blocking vital funding. Lilium was on the edge of having their jet potentially flying in 2025. They are waiting on a loan from the French government and should they succeed in achieving additional funding EASA certification could come in 2026.
It isn't just financing that serves as a hurdle to service entry it is simply the regulatory process. eVTOLs are a new category and many regulatory bodies are not certain how to integrate it into existing operations. Companies like Joby and Archer have been facing similar issues as the FAA are likely pushing back their certification towards the end of 2025. These American manufacturers appear to have half to three-quarters of a billion dollars in cash to play with at present with pending additional funding on the horizon for both. So in the short term, financing isn't the issue. For more information: Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. Unit 1, Camwal Court, Chapel Street Bristol, BS2 0UW www.vertical-aerospace.com ***
