AASHTO Journal - FAA Issues First eVTOL Special Airworthiness Certificate

The Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a first-of-its-kind Special Airworthiness Market Survey Certificate to BETA Technologies to conduct flight operations with its ALIA electric vertical takeoff and landing or “eVTOL” aircraft, known as the A250.

[Above photo by Utah DOT]

The FAA said that, after careful review by its safety experts, BETA’s A250 aircraft is now authorized to conduct flight operations with operators and participants for the purpose of conducting market surveys. The certificate also expands the geographic scope of BETA’s operations, allowing the aircraft to fly in more environments and gather more data, the agency added.

[Editor’s note: The Utah Department of Transportation oversaw a week-long demonstration project that included connecting Salt Lake City, Logan, and Provo by air using BETA’s ALIA all-electric aircraft.]

Sean Duffy, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, noted that “safe integration” of next-generation Advanced Air Mobility or AAM aircraft into the national airspace “is essential to ensuring the U.S. leads the way in aviation innovation.”

[Editor’s note: In December 2025, USDOT and FAA introduced an aviation strategy that outlined 40 recommendations to safely and efficiently support AAM operations. Subsequently, in March, USDOT selected eight proposals to help safely integrate next-generation AAM aircraft into the national airspace, with state departments of transportation involved in more than half of them.]

Duffy said that AAM has the potential to reshape how Americans live, work, and connect by enhancing rural and urban transportation, strengthening cargo operations, and advancing both medical and military transportation – and that this certification takes the industry one step closer to that reality.

“Incredible things are happening in aviation … and the FAA’s special airworthiness certification of BETA’s A250 aircraft is another critical step towards enabling the future of flight in America,” he explained in a statement. “From bringing the next generation of aircraft online to modernizing our nation’s air traffic control system – we are delivering generational wins for the flying public at record speed.”

“This authorization brings vertical flight closer to the people and places that will put it to work, building on BETA’s track record of industry first,” added FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.