The US Federal Aviation Administration is working to speed up the market launch of air taxis, supersonic aircraft, space launches and drones. FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Roshlo told Reuters that the agency is adjusting its approaches to certification and regulations in order to safely integrate new technologies into the national airspace.
Briefly about the main points
- The FAA plans to finalise two regulations on supersonic aviation by mid-2027.
- The first rule governing flights faster than Mach 1 over land is still at the draft stage.
- Eight eVTOL projects span 26 US states.
- Practical flights are intended to establish future standards for safe integration.
- The new rules do not mean that mass commercial flights will begin immediately.
eVTOL test flights will form the basis for new standards
The FAA has launched eVTOL Integration Pilot Programme, in order to gather practical data on the operation of vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The programme’s concept was announced in September 2025, and in March 2026 the FAA and the US Department of Transport selected eight projects.
These are not eight companies, but projects led by public authorities and institutions, including state transport departments, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the City of Albuquerque. Manufacturers and operators are involved in the project, including Archer, Joby, BETA, Electra, Wisk, Ampaire, Elroy Air and Reliable Robotics.
According to Roshl, the data from the programme will assist with the certification process. The FAA aims not to be overly prescriptive about how the requirements are met and to give the industry scope for innovation, whilst ensuring the safe and efficient integration of new aircraft into the airspace.
The pilot scheme covers more than just urban transport
eVTOLs are often marketed as a means of transport for short urban journeys and connections to airports. Archer Aviation compares their roll-out to Waymo’s phased, urban launch of self-driving cars: initially in restricted areas where procedures can be fine-tuned.
However, the projects selected by the FAA cover a wider range of scenarios. These include regional passenger transport, freight logistics, medical missions, autonomous technologies and flights for the offshore energy sector. In the New York area, eVTOL operations are planned at the Manhattan heliport, whilst the Texas project focuses on connections between Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, with a view to extending to Houston.
The programme will run for three years from the launch of the first project. The FAA had previously expected public operations to begin in the summer of 2026.
Supersonic flights over land: the first rule is still under discussion
At the end of June, the FAA presented the first of two draft regulations required to amend the rules governing supersonic flights over the US mainland. The document, entitled ‘Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight’, was published on 2 July; public comments are being accepted until 17 August.
The proposal would lift the general ban on civil flights exceeding Mach 1 over land, which has been in force since 1973, and replace it with a regime based on noise levels. Operators will be required to demonstrate that the excess pressure of the sonic boom on the ground does not exceed 0.11 pounds per square foot, in accordance with a methodology approved by the FAA.
Roshl called the current regulations outdated. At the same time, the proposed change does not automatically open the skies to supersonic airliners: once the rules are adopted, manufacturers will still need to certify specific aircraft. The current regime already allows for special permits for experimental and test flights in controlled areas.
The second phase will focus on noise along the route and near airports
The FAA plans to propose the second rule later in 2026. It is intended to set out noise requirements for take-off, landing and supersonic en-route flight. The agency states that it will take into account community acceptability, economic justification and technical feasibility.
The FAA expects to finalise both sets of regulations by mid-2027. The regulatory approach in this area is similar to that for the eVTOL programme: the agency is focusing on a measurable outcome — the safe integration of aircraft or the mitigation of sonic boom impact — rather than on prescribing every technical detail.
Regular commercial supersonic flights ceased in 2003, when Air France British Airways retired the Concorde after 27 years of service. The new regulations may pave the way for the next generation of such aircraft, but they do not in themselves constitute authorisation for their immediate commercial operation.
