UK Civil Aviation Authority Expands DOA Scope for Vertical Aerospace

CAA and EASA Collaborate on VX4 Certification

London, UK; New York, USA /10 July 2024 /Vertical Aerospace — Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL], a leading global aerospace and technology company pioneering zero emissions aviation, has announced the expansion of its Design Organisation Approval (DOA) scope by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This extension signifies the CAA’s increased confidence in Vertical’s engineering capabilities as the company progresses towards Type Certification for its VX4 aircraft.

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The expanded DOA scope allows Vertical’s engineers to certify more technical areas, including flight control, avionics, and electrical systems, thus streamlining the certification process. This development demonstrates the CAA’s trust in Vertical’s ability to achieve the highest aviation safety standards, comparable to those of large commercial airliners.

Vertical will work with the CAA to further expand its DOA privileges, enabling the regulator to rely on Vertical’s approval for certain activities, such as issuing a Permit to Fly for piloted flight tests on the VX4 programme. The company is set to complete the assembly of its most advanced VX4 prototype and begin its piloted flight test programme at its Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport.

In March 2023, Vertical became the first eVTOL developer to be granted a DOA by the CAA. Today’s expansion of the DOA scope is a significant step towards obtaining a Type Certificate, a prerequisite for entering commercial service.

Simultaneously, the CAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have agreed on a collaborative approach for certifying Vertical’s VX4. This agreement sets the foundation for concurrent certification and validation by both authorities, ensuring a streamlined process.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, stated, “This is another positive step forward in recognising that Vertical has the engineering capability to obtain certification for the VX4 aircraft. Our world-class engineering and design teams, combined with our partnership with leading aerospace companies and our state-of-the-art facilities in the UK, set us up well to achieve certification to the highest safety standards in the world. Seeing regulators like the CAA and EASA working closely together paves the way for a more seamless, faster route to certification.”

Vertical Aerospace is actively engaged in certification validation projects with five major regulatory agencies, including the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), EASA, CAA, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC), and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). These efforts ensure the VX4 aircraft meets the highest global safety standards.