Some eVTOLs have already been delivered to customers
Last week AutoFlight delivered its first electric air taxi to a Japanese Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operator1. AutoFlight’s Prosperity eVTOL uses a winged lift+cruise design to carry a pilot and four passengers with a max range of 155 miles.
This announcement follows other eVTOL deliveries since late 2023:
- Joby Delivers First eVTOL Aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base (September 2023)
- BETA Technologies delivers first manned electric aircraft to USAF (October 2023)
Though it’s encouraging that early customers are already holding the keys to their eVTOL, it may seem premature given that none of the above mentioned OEMs have yet received a Type Certificate (TC)2. However, it does demonstrate that eVTOL technology has matured to the point where manufacturers are happy to hand over their aircraft fully confident that a TC is coming soon.
It’s good news for insurers that the earliest adopters can build experience in limited and controlled environments, allowing for emerging risks to be addressed before commercial operations begin.
1 AutoFlight delivers first electric air taxi to customer in Japan
2 Type certification is the approval of the design of the aircraft and all component parts (FAA)
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