Federal regulators have cleared the way for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to share U.S. airspace with planes and helicopters — a win for the burgeoning industry and a timely decision for startups like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation which expects to launch commercial air taxi networks in 2025.

The Federal Aviation Administration released its long-awaited announcement on Tuesday final decision on the integration of “powered-lift” vehicles, a category revived by the FAA two years ago to accommodate eVTOLs and one that describes aircraft that can take off and land like helicopters but then transition to flight before airplanes do.

“Power-suspension aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years, and this historic rule will pave the way for large-scale advanced air mobility (AAM) operations in the future,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. statement. Whitaker announced the rule during the NBAA-Business Aviation Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas.

The ruling also contains guidelines for pilot training and clarifies operating rules. For example, in addition to a new type of powered suspension pilot certification, the ruling includes an expanded ability for operators to train and qualify pilots using flight simulation training devices.

The operating rules are specifically tailored to powered lift vehicles and as such allow eVTOLs the flexibility to switch between helicopter and airplane rules as needed.

Joby, archer, Beta Technologiesand Wisk Aero — which build aircraft for urban air taxi, defense, cargo and medical logistics networks — have worked closely with the FAA since 2022 to develop this new set of rules for training, operations and maintenance.

“(The decision) aligns with all the hopes we designed for,” Greg Bowles, head of government affairs at Joby Aviation, told TechCrunch. “So the way we’ve designed the operating system, the cockpit we’ve designed, the way we’ve designed the power reserves, all align with the FAA rule.”

Bowles also noted that Joby will be able to begin commercial operations once it receives type certification from the FAA, which means the startup’s aircraft design and other major aircraft components meet the necessary safety and airworthiness standards. Joby is in the fourth of five stages of type certification and recently received a $500 million capital injection from Toyota to help him cross the finish line.