Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emissions aviation, welcomes the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) announcement confirming use of Special Conditions (SC)-VTOL as the basis for the UK certification for new electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also used by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

This significant announcement supports Vertical’s concurrent CAA and EASA certification of its pioneering VX4 eVTOL aircraft, announced in April 2022.

Vertical welcomes the CAA’s commitment through the safety levels established under (SC)-VTOL to providing stringent levels of protection for UK consumers.

Vertical also believes the CAA’s decision to adopt (SC)-VTOL as the UK’s certification basis will support global market access and enable swift validation of Vertical’s VX4 aircraft worldwide.

Vertical continues to engage with regulatory authorities globally in key markets for the VX4 and supports the CAA’s objectives of harmonising safety standards across nations and continents to maintain the highest levels of safety, as well as reducing industry costs and avoiding duplication of effort.

Vertical expects to reach several critical certification milestones in the coming months, as the VX4’s test flight programme begins in Summer 2022.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder and CEO of Vertical, said: “We cannot decarbonise flight and transform urban mobility without winning public trust in the new technology of eVTOLs. Vertical Aerospace has already been striving to meet the highest possible safety standards for our aircraft, and we warmly welcome this decision. We look forward to continuing our work with the CAA to make eVTOLs safe for all consumers and bring the VX4 to the skies.”

Michael Cervenka, President of Vertical said “The UK confirming these high standards of safety for new electric aircraft is a pivotal and positive step towards building a world leading zero emissions aircraft manufacturer in Britain. It is vital that passengers and the public have the same trust in eVTOLs as in today’s passenger planes, as we try to make flying faster, smarter, and greener”.