TRAINING ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY

ter of a million fixed-wing pilots will be required for civilian operations. Consequently, the emergence of a burgeoning new aviation sector that necessitates qualified pilots might seem like unfortunate timing. However, if the vision of commercial eVTOL flights is to become a reality, operators must ensure they have access to the right pilots.

The initial group of eVTOL pilots will face intense scrutiny, as they will not only fly the first passengers but also do so under the watchful eye of the media. The source of these “top gun” pilots and the methods employed by the airline industry to ensure their suitability for the job are crucial questions. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made it clear that the first eVTOL pilots will hold commercial pilot licenses (CPL) and will undergo a transition course. In the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) jurisdiction, eVTOL pilots will possess either an airplane CPL or a helicopter CPL, supplemented by an eVTOL-specific type rating. The regulators expect eVTOL pilots to meet the same hour requirements as current operators, ruling out the possibility of candidates with no prior aviation experience. Additionally, the operators themselves prioritise highly experienced individuals who can handle the challenges of operating singlepilot flights on high-visibility routes into densely populated city centres.

To ensure safety, airlines will tap into their pool of highly skilled and experienced pilots, often referred to as “top-gun pilots,” to spearhead these initiatives. These pilots are intimately familiar with their airline’s safety culture and will be entrusted with the responsibility of flight testing and leading the way in this new era of aviation. It is not only their temperament that makes them well-suited for flying eVTOLs but also their decision-making skills. eVTOL pilots will navigate unfamiliar urban environments, possibly requiring skillsets similar to those of helicopter pilots. The complexities such pilots will encounter include operating in urban canyons, dealing with micro weather patterns, managing communication dead zones, and making rapid decisions in dense airspace where multiple vehicles share condensed air traffic corridors.

eVTOL PILOT TRAINING

There are a number of companies that are currently providing eVTOL pilot training. These companies offer a variety of training programmes, ranging from ab initio training for those with no prior flight experience to transition training for pilots who already hold a commercial pilot’s license. The training programmes typically include both simulator and flight training, and they cover a range of topics, including Aircraft systems,

Flight controls, VTOL operations, Emergency procedures and Airspace regulations.

The details of eVTOL pilot training programmes vary from company to company, but there are some common elements. All eVTOL pilot training programmes include theoretical training on the principles of eVTOL flight. This training typically covers topics such as aerodynamics, propulsion, and flight controls.

In addition to theoretical training, all eVTOL pilot training programmes include simulator-based training. Simulatorbased training allows pilots to practice the skills they need to fly eVTOL aircraft in a safe and controlled environment. This training is typically conducted in a full-motion simulator that replicates the flight characteristics of the eVTOL aircraft. The simulator training allows pilots to practice the different flight modes of the aircraft, including vertical take-off and landing, as well as normal and emergency procedures. The flight training is typically conducted in a light aircraft that has similar flight characteristics to the eVTOL aircraft. The flight training allows pilots to practice the different flight modes of the aircraft in a realworld environment.

The length of eVTOL pilot training programmes also varies from company to company. Some programmes can be completed in as little as six weeks, while others can take up to six months. The cost of eVTOL pilot training varies from company to company and depends on a number of factors, including the type of training programme, the aircraft used for training, and the experience of the instructor.