The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted G-1 certification basis to the Lilium Jet, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developed by Lilium, one of the emerging companies in this market.
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Lilium Jet eVTOL certification process moves forward
The decision represents an important step forward in the process of obtaining a type certificate for the model from the American regulator: the G-1 certificate sets out the airworthiness and environmental requirements necessary to achieve type certificate validation.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had already issued such a preliminary certification in 2020. Lilium expects the European authority to issue the type certificate for its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft in 2025.
«Since its founding, Lilium has focused on ensuring that its design, engineering and business operations align with the rigorous safety standards and certification procedures to achieve global acceptance», the company stated in a press release.
«We are the first powered lift eVTOL pioneer in our industry holding a certification basis from EASA and the FAA», said Alastair McIntosh, Lilium’s Chief Technology Officer. «This is a major step towards our goal of achieving early certification of our aircraft in key markets to support a worldwide entry into service», he added.
«Receiving the FAA G-1 demonstrates the Lilium Jet’s path to global acceptance by aerospace regulators and the expected start of global operations in late 2025 for the revolutionary Lilium Jet», said Klaus Roewe, CEO of Lilium.
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The Lilium eVTOL
According to its developer, the Lilium Jet will be capable of carrying up to six passengers and be operated by a single pilot. The interior can be adapted to achieve an optimised configuration for different uses and customer requirements.
It will reach a cruising speed of up to 175 miles per hour (280 kilometres per hour), and an altitude of up to 10.300 feet (3.000 metres). It will also have a maximum range of 155 miles (250 kilometres).
The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft will have a wingspan of 13.9 metres and a length of 8.5 metres. It will be powered by a series of thirty fans located in the wings and powered by batteries.
Lilium is one of a number of emerging companies in the eVTOL aircraft market. All of them are pursuing one main goal: to create zero-emission passenger air vehicles for short-haul urban or regional flights and to increase the accessibility of this type of air mobility for operators and their customers.
