Aviation stands on the cusp of the next revolution, the Chair of the UK Civil Aviation  Authority will say in a keynote speech on 27 September. 

The regulator is working with the aviation and aerospace industry as well as government to support the safe development and roll-out of sustainable fuels, drones  and new types of aircraft, which are poised to play a significant role in UK aviation. 

Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, will make the comments  at the Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit Asia in Singapore on Wednesday 27  September, in a keynote speech around how the regulator is enabling new  technologies. 

Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 

“Aviation now stands on the cusp of its next, and potentially biggest, revolution since  the invention of the jet engine. Radically different types of vehicles have the potential  to revolutionise the way people move around cities, improve transportation options,  and contribute to a more sustainable aviation ecosystem. 

“As the UK’s aviation and aerospace regulator, we have an important role in helping  enable innovation and those technological advances, while focusing primarily on the  safety of those who fly, and those on the ground below. 

“We continue to work with other member states and regulators to take on that  enormous challenge of regulating for the future in a collaborative way.” 

One of those new technologies is electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)  aircraft, often referred to as air taxis. eVTOL aircraft are designed to land and take  off like helicopters, but are powered by electricity, and have the potential to provide  more efficient and sustainable ways to travel between cities and airports. 

Earlier this year, the UK Civil Aviation Authority published its requirements for initial  airworthiness certification requirements for VTOL aircraft, which will help standardise  an approach to safety certification for eVTOL aircraft, accelerating their  development. 

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is in the process of engaging with various  manufacturers. Last year, Vertical Aerospace became the first eVTOL company in  the UK to fly after receiving a test permit from the regulator. Earlier this year it also  received a Design Organisational Approval, enabling it to advance work on a four passenger eVTOL vehicle. 

The regulator has also been developing guidance for the industry, to help inform and  support development. 

In July 2023, it published guidance on how the eVTOL industry could adopt key  consumer principles – highlighting the importance of new aircraft being fully  accessible and understandable for passengers.

That same month, guidance was also published on how eVTOL aircraft can operate  at aerodromes and vertiports. It provides key considerations for how facilities, often  within cities, could accommodate these vehicles safely. 

The evolving use of drones to fly further and beyond operator’s line of sight could  also change the way infrastructure inspections take place and goods are delivered. 

Last year the regulator set out how everyday Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)  flight could happen, and has granted permission for trials to take place. 

It recently supported Apian and Skyports in demonstration trials, which involved  making time-sensitive medical deliveries for the NHS. The trials improved patient  experiences by improving delivery times of critical chemotherapy drugs and the  processing time of samples, speeding up diagnosis times. 

The regulator is collaborating with industry and government on reducing emissions in  aviation too, exploring different fuel sources and supporting the government’s net zero ambitions. 

ZeroAvia, a company developing hydrogen-electric engines, has undertaken test  flights this year, following a test permit from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.