ASKA A5 eVTOL flying car starts FAA type approval procedure
DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby
air mobility company ASKA‘s four-passenger eVTOL became the first ever flying vehicle to initiate the type certification process with the FAA. The ASKA™ A5 prototype has received a Certificate of Authorization (COA) and Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA and has begun flight testing. ASKA has been conducting ground tests since 2022, and will start road tests in the first quarter of 2023. This special airworthiness certificate proves that the ASKA™ A5 meets all FAA safety requirements. The company is currently working closely with the FAA on type certification. the design is compliant Meets all airworthiness, noise, fuel and emissions standards.
“We achieved a series of technical milestones in the first quarter of 2023. We debuted the first full-scale working prototype of the ASKA™ A5 at CES in January and successfully completed field and driving tests. and obtained a COA and a special airworthiness certificate for the pre-production prototype,” said ASKA CEO and co-founder Guy Kaplinsky. “The data collected from flight testing will allow us to move forward towards type certification. We have already completed the initial stages and are moving towards the next milestone, G1 status.
A key step in the FAA cross-validation process, the G-1 base establishes the airworthiness and environmental requirements necessary to achieve FAA type certification validation.
The four-seater ASKA™ A5 is roughly the size of an SUV and fits in a standard parking space. The ASKA™ A5 is a drive-and-fly eVTOL capable of both road and air mobility, with a maximum flight range of 250 miles and an airspeed of up to 150 miles. The vehicle is designed for the highest level of safety and this is a major factor in allowing his ASKA to move forward with the FAA towards type certification. Its large aerodynamic wings are optimized for safe landings with glide capability. The aircraft also has his six independent motor systems for flight and a ballistic parachute.
“The airworthiness certification is proof of our commitment to the development of safety-focused drive-and-fly eVTOLs,” said Maki Kaplinsky, co-founder, chairman and COO of ASKA. Stated. “One of the key advantages of a driveable eVTOL like the ASKA™ A5 is that it can take full advantage of today’s infrastructure, such as the many charging stations around it, so there is no need to retrofit or electrify existing airports. We are working with regional airports in the Bay Area to test and validate our operational concept: the airport opens the gate, the ASKA™ A5 pulls in as a car and drives/taxi to the helipad or runway. , can be converted to flight mode and fly off.”
Using thrust from in-wheel motors and propellers, the ASKA™ A5 can also perform short takeoffs from energy efficient runways. The vehicle can be charged at home or at EV charging stations, and the range-extender engine runs on premium gasoline purchased at existing auto gas stations.
ASKA™ A5 pre-orders will open in 2021, and ASKA has already secured $50 million in pre-orders.
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Ian attended Dominican University in California and graduated with a BA in English in 2019. With her lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and keen interest in technology, she now contributes to her DroneLife as a staff writer.
Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of professional drone services marketplace JobForDrones, is a keen observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory environment. Miriam is an international speaker and industry recognized figure, with over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and he has over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, email Miriam.
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