Originally Posted by
MarkerInbound
The FAA currently has a “Powered Lift” category for pilot certificates but I don’t see any active certificates on the FAA pilot statistics page. Just a couple months ago they put out a NPRM to revise the training required and to require type ratings for all powers lift aircraft.
I live 10 mins away from both Joby and Archers testing airports in California. Have acquaintances working at both. They will be power lift (only osprey pilots currently have that if the got their equivalency with FAA). The idea is to take a CPL or rotor pilot, and give them type training with a powerlift add on. They are targeting 500hr pilots (vfr 135 mins) who would use this to bridge the gap to 1500hr ATP, then they move on.
Archer would like to have this as part of the United Airlines Aviate ecosystem. the scheme as follows.
1) CPL at United aviate academy in Arizona (former Lufthansa).
2) Archer pilot for 1000 hrs. (Under United banner)
3) United Express pilot until 1000 PIC. (Mesa/gojet/commutair)
4)United Airlines Mainline