eVTOL Certification Tracker
Track the FAA, EASA, and CAAC certification status of every major eVTOL program worldwide. From type certificates to production approvals and air operator certificates — see exactly where each company stands on the path to commercial operations.
Only 3 eVTOL type certificates have been issued globally as of April 2026. The FAA selected 8 eIPP demonstration projects for summer 2026 flights, and multiple programs are in advanced stages targeting certification in 2026.
Certification Status Dashboard
Real-time certification progress for every major eVTOL program. Track type certificates, production certificates, and air operator certificates across FAA, EASA, and CAAC.
| Company | Aircraft | Regulator | Current Stage | Status | Progress | Target Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joby Aviation | Joby S4 | FAA | Stage 5 TIA — First FAA-Conforming Aircraft Flying | In Progress | 85% | Mid 2026 |
| Joby Aviation | Joby S4 | EASA | Application Filed | In Progress | 20% | 2026–2027 |
| Archer Aviation | Midnight | FAA | Type Certification — 100% MOC Accepted | In Progress | 65% | Late 2026 |
| Archer Aviation | Midnight | EASA | Application Filed | In Progress | 15% | 2027–2028 |
| EHang | EH216-S | CAAC | Air Operator Certificate (AOC) | Certified | 100% | Certified |
| EHang | EH216-S | EASA | Application Pending | In Progress | 10% | TBD |
| Wisk Aero | Wisk Gen 6 | FAA | Early Certification Stages | In Progress | 15% | No fixed timeline |
| Eve Air Mobility | Eve eVTOL | FAA / ANAC | Type Certification In Progress | In Progress | 42% | 2028 |
| Vertical Aerospace | VX4 | EASA / CAA | Certification Testing | In Progress | 30% | 2028 |
| BETA Technologies | ALIA CX300 | FAA | Type Certification In Progress | In Progress | 52% | 2026–2027 |
| AutoFlight | CarryAll (V2000CG) | CAAC | Full Certification — TC + PC + AC | Certified | 100% | Certified (2025) |
| AutoFlight | Prosperity (V2000EM) | CAAC | Phase IV Compliance Verification | In Progress | 60% | 2026–2027 |
| Lilium | Lilium Jet | EASA | Certification Paused — Ceased Operations | Paused / Uncertain | 0% | Uncertain |
| Volocopter | VoloCity | EASA | Restructuring — EU Regulatory Sandbox 2026 | In Progress | 15% | 2027–2028 |
Stage 5 TIA — First FAA-Conforming Aircraft Flying
Key Milestones
- •G-1 certification basis agreed
- •TIA issued — conforming aircraft in FAA flight testing
- •First FAA-conforming production aircraft completed flight (March 2026)
Application Filed
Key Milestones
- •EASA certification application submitted
- •Parallel validation process underway
Type Certification — 100% MOC Accepted
Key Milestones
- •100% FAA Means of Compliance accepted — industry first (March 2026)
- •3 of 4 FAA type certificates obtained
- •Conforming Midnight aircraft built and in flight testing
Application Filed
Key Milestones
- •EASA certification application filed
- •Serbia EXPO 2027 deal for up to 25 aircraft
Air Operator Certificate (AOC)
Key Milestones
- •Type Certificate issued (Oct 2023) — world first
- •Production Certificate issued (Apr 2024)
- •Air Operator Certificate issued (2025)
Application Pending
Key Milestones
- •EASA engagement initiated
- •European demonstration flights conducted
Early Certification Stages
Key Milestones
- •FAA certification application submitted
- •Autonomous operation adds regulatory complexity
- •Boeing subsidiary — full engineering support
Type Certification In Progress
Key Milestones
- •Embraer subsidiary — leveraging 55+ years of certification expertise
- •2,700+ global commitments including binding orders (March 2026)
- •Full-scale prototype maiden flight completed (Dec 2025)
Certification Testing
Key Milestones
- •EASA and UK CAA parallel certification
- •Rolls-Royce electric motors partnership
- •American Airlines investment commitment
Type Certification In Progress
Key Milestones
- •FAA type certification progressing — conformity inspections underway
- •250-mile range — longest of any eVTOL
- •UPS cargo delivery partnership
Full Certification — TC + PC + AC
Key Milestones
- •CAAC Type Certificate received (March 2024) — world's first certified heavy-lift eVTOL
- •Production Certificate issued (December 2024)
- •Airworthiness Certificate issued (July 2025) — full certification complete
Phase IV Compliance Verification
Key Milestones
- •6-seat passenger eVTOL — separate from the certified CarryAll cargo variant
- •CAAC certification application accepted
- •Phase IV compliance verification underway (2026)
Certification Paused — Ceased Operations
Key Milestones
- •EASA was lead regulator — DOA approved
- •Ceased operations February 2025
- •Raised $1.5B+ but failed to bridge funding gap
Restructuring — EU Regulatory Sandbox 2026
Key Milestones
- •EASA SC-VTOL Enhanced certification was in advanced stages
- •Acquired by Diamond Aircraft Group (March 2025)
- •Accepted into EU regulatory sandbox program for 2026 testing
Data current as of April 2026. Certification timelines are subject to change based on testing results and regulatory review processes.
Key Milestones Achieved
Major certification milestones for the leading eVTOL programs.
Joby S4 — Stage 5 TIA — First FAA-Conforming Aircraft Flying
- •G-1 certification basis agreed
- •TIA issued — conforming aircraft in FAA flight testing
- •First FAA-conforming production aircraft completed flight (March 2026)
- •Toyota partnership with 200 embedded engineers
- •Five-nation certification roadmap (FAA, EASA, UAE, Japan, UK)
- •Selected for FAA eIPP demonstration program (March 2026)
Midnight — Type Certification — 100% MOC Accepted
- •100% FAA Means of Compliance accepted — industry first (March 2026)
- •3 of 4 FAA type certificates obtained
- •Conforming Midnight aircraft built and in flight testing
- •United Airlines partnership — 200+ aircraft order
- •Named official LA 2028 Olympics air mobility provider
- •NVIDIA IGX Thor AI flight controls partnership
- •Selected for FAA eIPP demonstration program (March 2026)
EH216-S — Air Operator Certificate (AOC)
- •Type Certificate issued (Oct 2023) — world first
- •Production Certificate issued (Apr 2024)
- •Air Operator Certificate issued (2025)
- •Commercial passenger operations active in China
Wisk Gen 6 — Early Certification Stages
- •FAA certification application submitted
- •Autonomous operation adds regulatory complexity
- •Boeing subsidiary — full engineering support
Eve eVTOL — Type Certification In Progress
- •Embraer subsidiary — leveraging 55+ years of certification expertise
- •2,700+ global commitments including binding orders (March 2026)
- •Full-scale prototype maiden flight completed (Dec 2025)
- •FAA and ANAC (Brazil) parallel certification
- •New binding orders from Revo (50 aircraft) and AirX (50 aircraft)
VX4 — Certification Testing
- •EASA and UK CAA parallel certification
- •Rolls-Royce electric motors partnership
- •American Airlines investment commitment
- •1,400+ pre-orders secured
How eVTOL Certification Works
The certification process for eVTOL aircraft follows a rigorous multi-stage framework similar to commercial aviation. Here are the six key stages from application to commercial operations.
1. Application & Certification Basis
The manufacturer applies to the aviation authority (FAA, EASA, or CAAC) and agrees on the certification basis — the set of airworthiness standards the aircraft must meet. This includes defining special conditions for novel technologies like electric propulsion and distributed lift.
2. Design Review & Compliance Plans
The authority reviews the aircraft design and the manufacturer submits Means of Compliance (MOC) documents showing how each certification requirement will be met. This involves thousands of individual test plans covering structures, propulsion, avionics, software, and safety.
3. Testing & Type Inspection Authorization (TIA)
Ground tests, flight tests, and simulations demonstrate compliance. The FAA issues a TIA allowing conforming aircraft to undergo official flight testing. This phase includes structural loads testing, systems integration, performance validation, and handling qualities evaluation.
4. Type Certificate (TC)
After all compliance evidence is reviewed and accepted, the regulator issues a Type Certificate confirming the aircraft design is safe for commercial operations. This is the most critical milestone — only 3 eVTOL type certificates have been issued globally as of April 2026.
5. Production Certificate (PC)
A separate certificate allowing the manufacturer to produce aircraft in series. Requires demonstration of quality management systems, manufacturing processes, and supply chain controls that ensure every aircraft matches the approved type design.
6. Air Operator Certificate (AOC)
Issued to the operator (which may be the manufacturer), certifying they meet all requirements for commercial passenger or cargo operations. Covers pilot training, maintenance programs, safety management systems, operational control, and financial fitness.
Regulatory Authorities Compared
The three major aviation regulators are taking different approaches to eVTOL certification.
FAA
United States
Uses adapted Part 21 airworthiness standards with a new powered-lift category. Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for pilot training. The bipartisan Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act (Feb 2026) aims to accelerate certification with 270-day review targets.
First TC expected: 2026 (Joby Aviation)
EASA
European Union
Created SC-VTOL Special Condition with Basic and Enhanced categories. The Enhanced category requires a catastrophic failure rate of 10⁻⁹ per flight hour. Published detailed Means of Compliance (MOC-2) technical standards. Multiple programs under review.
First TC expected: 2026–2027
CAAC
China
First in the world to issue an eVTOL type certificate (EHang EH216-S, 2023). Developed special conditions for both piloted and autonomous eVTOL operations. Strong government support driving rapid deployment in cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.
First TC issued: October 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of eVTOL certification worldwide?
As of April 2026, only three eVTOL type certificates have been issued globally. EHang received the world's first eVTOL type certificate from CAAC in October 2023 for the EH216-S, followed by a production certificate in 2024 and AOC in 2025. AutoFlight received a CAAC type certificate for the Prosperity I in 2024. In the United States, Joby Aviation is approximately 85% through FAA type certification with its first FAA-conforming aircraft now flying, while Archer Aviation has achieved 100% FAA Means of Compliance acceptance. The FAA selected 8 eIPP demonstration projects in March 2026, with flights expected summer 2026. EASA has not yet issued any eVTOL type certificates but has multiple programs under review.
How long does eVTOL certification take from start to finish?
The typical eVTOL type certification process takes 5 to 8 years from initial application to certificate issuance. The process includes 1-2 years for certification basis agreement, 2-3 years for design review and compliance documentation, and 2-3 years for testing and demonstration. Joby Aviation began their FAA process around 2018 and is targeting 2026 for their type certificate. Autonomous eVTOL programs like Wisk Aero may take longer due to the additional complexity of certifying self-flying aircraft without established regulatory precedent.
What is the difference between FAA, EASA, and CAAC certification?
FAA (United States), EASA (European Union), and CAAC (China) are independent aviation regulators with distinct certification processes. The FAA uses an adapted Part 21 framework with special conditions for powered-lift aircraft. EASA created the SC-VTOL Special Condition specifically for eVTOL aircraft with Basic and Enhanced categories. CAAC developed special conditions for both piloted and autonomous eVTOL. While bilateral agreements exist between some authorities for mutual recognition, a type certificate from one country does not automatically apply in another — validation or separate certification is required.
Which eVTOL company is closest to FAA certification?
Joby Aviation is the closest to receiving FAA type certification as of April 2026. The company has reached Stage 5 TIA testing, and its first FAA-conforming production aircraft completed flight in March 2026. Joby is approximately 85% through the type certification process and is targeting mid-2026 for their type certificate. Archer Aviation is the second closest, having achieved 100% FAA Means of Compliance acceptance — an industry first — and targeting late 2026.
What happens after an eVTOL receives its type certificate?
Receiving a type certificate is a major milestone but does not immediately allow commercial passenger operations. The manufacturer must also obtain a Production Certificate to build aircraft in series, demonstrating quality manufacturing systems. Then, the operator needs an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) covering pilot training, maintenance programs, safety management, and operational procedures. EHang is the only company to have completed all three steps, receiving their CAAC type certificate (2023), production certificate (2024), and AOC (2025).
Can an eVTOL certified in China fly in the United States or Europe?
Not automatically. Each aviation authority independently certifies or validates aircraft for operation in their jurisdiction. While bilateral agreements exist between the FAA and EASA for streamlined mutual validation, China's CAAC does not have equivalent comprehensive agreements. An eVTOL certified by CAAC would need to undergo a separate validation or certification process with the FAA or EASA to fly in the U.S. or Europe. This is why companies like Joby pursue simultaneous certification across multiple authorities.
Why have some eVTOL certification programs been paused or cancelled?
Certification requires sustained investment over many years, and some companies have run out of funding before completion. Lilium ceased operations in February 2025 despite being well advanced in EASA certification, having raised over $1.5 billion. Volocopter was acquired by Diamond Aircraft Group and its EASA certification was paused during restructuring. These cases highlight that certification progress alone does not guarantee success — companies must maintain sufficient cash runway to complete the lengthy process.
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