The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed a Declaration of Cooperation with the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), officially agreeing to partner on aircraft development and operation.
The declaration sees the strengthening of a long-standing relationship between the two agencies, and formalizes ongoing discussions on certifying and validating new aircraft, production, airworthiness, operations, and personnel licensing.
“The FAA and the JCAB have enjoyed a long and strong working relationship, and that will extend into this new era of aviation,” said Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen in a statement. “Close collaboration with our international partners is critical to successfully and safely integrating these new technologies.”
The “new era” mentioned by Nolen refers to the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), which is attracting major investment from the likes of Boeing and Airbus. Last week, Delta Air Lines announced a $60 million in Joby Aviation, an air taxi startup that plans to offer routes between New York and Los Angeles.
The technology opens up the exciting possibility of urban air transport, reducing congestion on the roads. Some eVTOL companies are planning to launch commercial services by 2024, a development that will require a major rethink of existing regulatory frameworks.
Keen to work more closely with agencies across the planet ahead of the coming challenges, the FAA’s agreement with the JCAB follows the announcement of similar partnerships with regulators in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.