This week at EAA AirVenture, VAI is cosponsoring, along with Robinson Helicopter Co., the new Vertical Lift Center, where showgoers can learn more about eVTOL and AAM aircraft. (VAI/Bailey Wood Photo) VAI elevates vertical flight at EAS, EAA AirVenture FAA eIPP, new Vertical Lift Center highlight this week’s events in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By Mark Huber Just days before this week’s Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture show, VAI took part in the 20th Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium, on Jul. 18 and 19 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At the event, sponsored by the Vertical Flight Society, VAI Director of Regulatory Affairs Amber Harrison moderated a panel of experts on the FAA’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Harrison explained the features that differentiate the eIPP from past public–private initiatives, which currently spans more than 25 US states. “The eIPP represents an important evolution in how government and industry work together. Rather than developing policy entirely inside the Washington bubble, the FAA has partnered with states, local communities, manufacturers, and operators to evaluate how advanced air mobility can be integrated safely into real-world operations.” Panelist Jeffrey Vincent, FAA Southern Region administrator, said the overarching purpose of the eIPP program “is to accelerate the rulemaking process, getting eVTOLs certified and into the NAS [National Airspace System]. Our projects include advances in autonomous operations, cargo, passenger flights, medical response, flights over the Gulf [of Mexico].” The FAA has already studied integrating AAM into the international airports in Orlando, Florida, and Los Angeles, California, according to Vincent. “Public confidence in AAM depends on the federal government to set standards for safe manufacture and operation of AAM aircraft to carefully integrate with existing policies,” he stressed, adding that moving toward fully autonomous aircraft is expected to happen in stages. Initial eIPP operations will mirror those of current helicopters and helicopter routing. Vincent said the program, working with NASA, will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to create data-driven and predictive simulation models. It also will change the way regulations are written. “The concept of regulation as software or machine-readable regulation is a paradigm shift in how we would write aviation rules or standards,” Vincent said, adding that potential examples of FAA encoding for regulation software include low-altitude airspace restrictions. On the state level, Florida is one of those making large strides to incorporate AAM into its statewide aviation plan, according to panelist Will N. Watts Jr., P.E., COO and assistant secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation. “Between now and the end of 2027, we plan to make deliberate end-to-end approaches to advance AAM in scalable and long-term operations by aligning policy, infrastructure, industry readiness, and stakeholder coordination,” Watts said. “We’re gathering real-world data to support [aircraft] certification and inform future policy decisions. We’re looking ahead at what the infrastructure and power needs are and we’re engaging the public.” In addition to participating in the Electric Aircraft Symposium, this week at EAA AirVenture VAI is cosponsoring, along with Robinson Helicopter Co., the new Vertical Lift Center, where showgoers can learn more about eVTOL and AAM aircraft. “Vertical aviation is entering a period of fast growth and real change, and the new Vertical Lift Center at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh gives us a high-visibility place to show the public where this sector is headed,” says François Lassale, VAI president and CEO. “VAI is proud to partner with Robinson Helicopter Company and EAA to highlight the full spectrum of vertical lift, from today’s rotorcraft operations to emerging VTOL technologies, while inspiring the next generation of pilots, maintainers, and engineers who will power this industry upward.” Mark Huber is an aviation journalist with more than two decades of experience in the vertical flight industry.
