DEPLOYDatabase

Regulation · Safety standard

FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft

FAA established Part 21.17(b) as the certification basis for powered-lift eVTOL aircraft. Joby Aviation is the FAA reference case, having reached Stage 4 certification and TIA testing. Archer Aviation is following a similar path for its Midnight eVTOL. Joby targeting late 2026 type certificate.

Jurisdiction: United States · Effective 2025-01-01


Machine-readable surfaces

Sources (1)

  1. https://www.commercialuavnews.com/faa-regulation-certification-aam-joby-archer-electra · 2026-01-01

Status history

  • In effect · 2025-01-01 · agent-recon

    Initial ingestion

Common questions

What does FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft cover?
FAA established Part 21.17(b) as the certification basis for powered-lift eVTOL aircraft. Joby Aviation is the FAA reference case, having reached Stage 4 certification and TIA testing. Archer Aviation is following a similar path for its Midnight eVTOL. Joby targeting late 2026 type certificate.
Where does FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft apply?
FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft is recorded as a safety_standard applying in United States on the DEPLOY registry.
When did FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft take effect?
FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft is recorded as effective January 1, 2025 on the DEPLOY registry.
Is FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft still in effect?
FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft is currently in effect and applies to covered operators in the named jurisdiction.
What types of robots does FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft apply to?
FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft is recorded as applying to drones on the DEPLOY registry.
Which robot models on the DEPLOY registry fall under FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft?
8 robot models on the DEPLOY registry match the form-factor scope of FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft: A200-XT, AEVEX Strike Drone, AIR ONE, ALIA-250 and 4 others. Form-factor scope match does not by itself establish compliance status; review the underlying primary sources for each operator.
Methodology: Unreviewed · 1 source (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-08-09

Verification posture

Unreviewed

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-08-09

Architectural position

Cohort: aerial

Sources by quality tier

1
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for FAA Part 21.17(b) Type Certification Path for eVTOL Powered-Lift Aircraft.

Canonical ID 529db1b0-29a9-4235-b704-3d95004e8dbd