AMSL Aero is preparing to fast-track its global market entry for its hydrogen-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Vertiia, following a new international agreement aimed at harmonising certification standards for the emerging class of electric aircraft.
The agreement, involving aviation regulators from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, is set to simplify the complex certification process that currently requires eVTOLs to be approved separately in each country, as revealed in a news release.
Under the new roadmap, mutual recognition of certifications would allow eVTOLs like Vertiia to operate more easily across multiple jurisdictions once certified in one of the member countries.
AMSL Aero Chief Executive Officer Dr. Adriano Di Pietro welcomed the development, saying it paves the way for faster international expansion and has already sparked renewed interest from potential overseas customers.
“As we step up our development towards Australian certification of Vertiia we are delighted that CASA has come together with its peers in these four other leading aviation markets to harmonise and streamline the certification and validation process for eVTOLs across international boundaries. This is substantial for the industry,” Dr Di Pietro said.
“Vertiia has attracted growing attention internationally since last November, when it joined an elite group of eVTOLs to achieve untethered horizontal flight. The NAA’s announcement reduces the overheads for international certification for developers and has opened the market for further keen interest from overseas customers who are attracted to Vertiia’s 1,000 km range, 300 km/h cruising speed, and multiple use cases.”
AMSL Aero Chairman Chris Smallhorn said the agreement would enhance Australia’s aerospace industry by giving local companies more competitive footing globally.
“We welcome global alignment between CASA and its fellow regulators on eVTOL certification in these important markets. This roadmap will bolster Australian sovereign capability in aerospace by empowering homegrown innovators like AMSL Aero to compete even more strongly at a global level,” Smallhorn said.
The NAA’s roadmap includes unified standards for hydrogen-fuelled and hybrid-electric aircraft beginning in 2026, when AMSL Aero is scheduled to commence hydrogen-powered flight testing of Vertiia.
Designed from inception to operate using hydrogen, Vertiia aims to offer long-range, zero-emissions transport for both cargo and passengers.
AMSL Aero said it has received deposits for 26 Vertiia aircraft from Australian civil customers, spanning applications such as passenger transport, charter operations, freight, and aeromedical services.
