U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called for the FAA to improve and accelerate aircraft certification while maintaining safety standards, speaking at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas. His remarks came as the agency authorised BETA Technologies to conduct passenger-carrying market-research flights with its Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft, a first for an eVTOL programme, highlighting the potential commercial impact of more predictable approval timelines.
Duffy indicated that the Department of Transportation would undertake a deeper review of FAA certification timelines. He has argued that aircraft approval in the United States can take substantially longer than in Europe, creating a competitive disadvantage as manufacturers develop new commercial aircraft, business jets and advanced-air-mobility systems.
The comments followed the FAA’s certification of Boeing’s 737-10 after years of review. However, they did not establish a new rule, implementation schedule or guaranteed reduction in certification durations. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and the broader aviation industry will therefore face the task of translating the policy intention into specific process changes.
Duffy also presented advanced air mobility as part of the future of air travel and discussed a proposed additional $30 billion for air-traffic-control modernisation. The funding remains subject to congressional approval. Separately, the FAA’s special airworthiness certificate allows BETA to carry passengers and other participants in market-survey operations with its Alia 250, supporting further development of the company’s eVTOL business case without constituting full commercial certification.