Silicon Valley Flying Car Startup Initiates FAA Type Certification Process

A startup in Silicon Valley, California, that is developing the world’s first flying car is making huge strides in the certification process.

ASKA announced on June 29, 2023, that the company is starting the type certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The ASKA A5 four-seater flying car prototype has already been awarded Certificate of Authorization (COA) and Special Airworthiness Certification by the FAA and has started flight testing.

Since 2022 ASKA has performed successful ground testing and in Q1 of 2023 began conducting on-street driving tests.

This Special Airworthiness Certificate signals that ASKA A5 has successfully met all FAA safety requirements.

Type certification signifies the design is in compliance with applicable airworthiness, noise, fuel venting, exhaust emissions standards and is required to fly passengers.

“We have achieved a series of technological milestones in the first quarter of 2023; debuting the first full-scale working prototype of the ASKA A5 in January, successfully performing field and driving tests, and obtaining the COA and Special Airworthiness Certification for our pre-production prototype,” said Guy Kaplinsky, AKSA CEO/cofounder. “The data we are harvesting from flight testing is enabling us to make progress towards our type certification. We already completed the initial phase and are progressing towards our next milestone, G1 status.”

G-1 basis is a critical milestone in the FAA cross-validation process, establishing airworthiness and environmental requirements necessary to achieve FAA Type Certification Validation.

The size of an SUV, the ASKA A5 is a drive and fly eVTOL aircraft that can travel by road and air.

It will be able to carry three passengers up to 250 miles at speeds that reach 150mph.

“One of the significant advantages of a roadworthy eVTOL, like the ASKA A5, is that it does not require the modification or electrification of existing airports since it can maximize the use of today’s infrastructure, such as the many charging stations located around us,” said Maki Kaplinsky, cofounder/chair and COO. “We are working with local airports in the Bay Area to test and confirm our concept of operations – they open the gate, ASKA A5 drives in as a car, drives/taxis to the helipad or runway, transforms into the flight mode and can take off.”

ASKA launched in 2018 and started taking pre-order reservations in 2021. The company has already secured $50 million in pre-orders.