Aska has started type certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its A5 four-seat drive & fly electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The Silicon Valley air mobility company’s prototype was awarded Certificate of Authorization (COA), Special Airworthiness Certification, and has started flight testing.
Aska is currently working closely with the FAA on type certification, which signifies the design is in compliance with applicable airworthiness, noise, fuel venting, and exhaust emissions standards.
“We have achieved a series of technological milestones in the first quarter of 2023; debuting the first full-scale working prototype of the Aska A5 in January at CES, successfully performing field and driving tests, and obtaining the COA and Special Airworthiness Certification for our pre-production prototype,” said Guy Kaplinsky, Aska CEO & Co-founder. “The data we are harvesting from flight testing is enabling us to make progress towards our type certification. We already completed the initial phase and are progressing towards our next milestone, G1 status.”
G-1 basis is said to be a critical milestone in the FAA cross-validation process, establishing airworthiness and environmental requirements necessary to achieve FAA Type Certification Validation.
Size of an SUV, the Aska A5 is a drive & fly eVTOL that can travel by road and air. According to Aska, the vehicle is designed for the highest level of safety, a key factor that has enabled the company to make positive progress with the FAA toward type certification.
“The airworthiness certification validates our efforts to develop a drive & fly eVTOL with an emphasis on safety,” added Maki Kaplinsky, Co-founder Chair & COO. “One of the significant advantages of a roadworthy eVTOL, like the Aska A5, is that it does not require the modification or electrification of existing airports since it can maximize the use of today’s infrastructure, such as the many charging stations located around us. We are working with local airports in the Bay Area to test and confirm our concept of operations – they open the gate, Aska A5 drives in as a car, drives/taxis to the helipad or runway, transforms into the flight mode and can take off.”
Aska A5 is not only capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) from a helipad or vertiport, it can enter an airfield by driving through the airport gate, open the wings, taxi towards a helipad or runway, then take off. The vehicle can also perform an energy-efficient short take-off from the runway using the in-wheel motors and thrust from the props.
The A5 makes maximum use of existing infrastructure, such as parking, charging stations, airfields, helipads and runways, for a seamless integration into city and suburban landscapes. The vehicle fits in standard parking spaces, it can be charged at home and EV charging stations, and the range extender engine runs on premium gasoline purchased at existing automotive gas stations.
