After the FAA unveiled its sweeping overhaul of light-sport aircraft regulations, small-scale eVTOL developers are celebrating faster certification prospects, but larger OEMs will not see immediate impact.
Days after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unveiled its long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, reactions from the advanced air mobility sector suggest the move could accelerate certification for small, personal electric aircraft but leave larger air taxi developers largely unaffected.
Signed on 22 July 2025, MOSAIC marks the most sweeping overhaul of light-sport aviation regulations in two decades. The rule replaces outdated weight restrictions with performance-based standards, expands the category of Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) to include powered-lift vehicles such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) models, and grants sport pilots new privileges once additional training and endorsements are completed. Changes will roll out gradually, with pilot privileges beginning this October and certification updates due by July 2026.
Announcing the rule, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said outdated regulations had stifled innovation in recreational aviation for too long. “This new rule will promote better designs, safer materials, and upgraded technology,” he said, adding that the changes would “bring this industry into a new age.”
LSAs are small, easy-to-fly aircraft that typically require only a sport pilot certificate, which is simpler to obtain than a private licence but comes with additional operating limits. Under MOSAIC, the category now opens up to certain two-seat eVTOLs for the first time, potentially lowering barriers to entry for electric flight enthusiasts and flight schools adopting zero-emission trainers.
Personal eVTOL developers welcome MOSAIC
Manufacturers focused on lightweight personal aircraft have responded enthusiastically, both in the US and abroad. Jinmo Lee, CEO of Airbility, told Zag Daily the decision is “a pivotal step” for the sector. Airbility, based in Korea, is developing a two-seat manned eVTOL aircraft, intended for commercialisation by 2028.
“By integrating powered‑lift aircraft into the Light Sport Aircraft category and removing previous weight constraints, it opens the door for higher‑performance designs and broader accessibility. This regulatory shift is likely to accelerate innovation and bring personal and recreational flight closer to everyday reality,” he said.
Michael Thompson, CEO of Skyfly, echoed this sentiment on social media , calling MOSAIC a “game-changer” for certifying the company’s two-seat Axe eVTOL. In the U.S., Stellar Jet, a hydrogen aircraft startup, described the rule as a “turning point” for sustainable personal aviation, offering long-awaited regulatory clarity for lightweight, clean-propulsion aircraft.
Limited impact on larger urban air mobility projects
Some experts argue the rule won’t help companies like Archer, Beta, or Joby Aviation, whose aircraft are designed to carry more passengers and must navigate lengthier FAA type certification processes under Part 23 and Part 135 rules.
Keith Sarich, eVTOL consultant and advisor at Airspace Experience Technologies, told Zag Daily that MOSAIC offers “little benefit to larger OEMs already locked into multi-year certification plans,” adding that the two-seat cap means it mainly applies to smaller, recreational aircraft.
“I do not see the major OEMs really benefit from MOSAIC. Now for other eVTOL startups, like AIR and SKYFLY, MOSAIC would for sure be a big benefit if we look at the benefits regarding weight, configuration, type of pilot certificate and privileges of,” he explained.
While MOSAIC’s two-seat limitation and certification scope mean it is unlikely to directly accelerate the certification timeline for larger OEMs like Joby, the company’s CEO JoeBen Bevirt has publicly welcomed the rule’s potential to unlock personal aviation opportunities.
Bevirt acknowledged that although Joby’s commercial air taxi programme continues to progress under the FAA’s established Part 23 and 135 certification pathways, MOSAIC creates an important regulatory foundation for new personal aircraft, propulsion systems, and a wider pilot training ecosystem. This, he suggests, lays the groundwork for aviation to become a more common part of everyday life in the U.S., signalling a “next golden age of aviation” that complements Joby’s ongoing efforts rather than replaces them.
The FAA says it is working with regulators in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand to align standards for powered-lift aircraft internationally, aiming to simplify cross-border certification in the future.