China Unveils Draft Rules to Speed Certification of eVTOL Aircraft
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The Inflync L600 Pioneer concept eVTOL aircraft on display at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Nov. 6, 2025.
China’s civil aviation regulator has released a draft set of general airworthiness standards aimed at speeding certification of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), a key step toward commercial deployment of eVTOLs.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said the proposed standards would provide a more unified regulatory basis for certifying eVTOL aircraft, which until now have largely been reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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- China’s CAAC released draft general airworthiness standards for eVTOL aircraft, aiming to streamline certification and accelerate commercial deployment.
- The standards cover piloted, fully electric powered-lift aircraft under 5,700 kg, up to 9 passengers, and under 463 km/h cruise speed.
- The move aligns China with global regulatory trends, competing with the U.S., where the FAA issued its own eVTOL certification framework in July 2023.
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Who’s Who
- Zerog Aircraft Industry (Hefei) Co. Ltd.
- Jia Siyuan, co-founder of Zerog Aircraft Industry (Hefei) Co. Ltd., believes a general standard for eVTOL airworthiness would streamline communication with regulators and provide clearer design benchmarks for manufacturers. This would make the certification process more efficient compared to the current case-by-case approach.
- Inflync Aviation Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
- Inflync Aviation Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. is a company whose founder, Jiang Bin, commented on China's new draft airworthiness standards for eVTOLs. He views these standards as the CAAC's way of aligning with global regulators and competing in setting aviation rules. Jiang Bin also emphasized the global nature of aviation and the need for regulatory convergence to avoid barriers for Chinese-built eVTOLs operating overseas.
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What Happened When
- 2025：
- The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) released a draft set of general airworthiness standards aimed at speeding certification of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL).
- 2025：
- CAAC stated that the proposed standards would provide a more unified regulatory basis for certifying eVTOL aircraft.
- 2025：
- Jia Siyuan stated that a general standard would make early-stage communication with regulators more efficient.
- 2025：
- Draft rules cover piloted, fully electric powered-lift aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kg, no more than nine passengers, and a max cruise speed below 463 km/h.
- 2025：
- Applicants would be allowed to use the general standard as the primary basis for airworthiness approval.
- 2025：
- Jiang Bin notes that the standards reflect regulatory competition with the United States.
- 2025：
- China and the United States are the world's most active eVTOL markets in terms of financing and certification progress.
- 2025：
- The FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency have both clearly defined eVTOL operational rules as of this year.
- July 2025：
- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory circular establishing broadly applicable guidance for eVTOL airworthiness certification.
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