We are experiencing a time of technological excitement in the aviation sector, and one of the most promising—but also most challenging—areas is that of small electric aircraft. The dream of flying in a silent, emission-free aircraft capable of taking off from a city center is more alive than ever. However, between the media hype and the harsh technical and regulatory reality, there is a gap that should not be underestimated.
Currently, dozens of companies around the world are actively working to develop small electric aircraft, generally with capacity for between one and five passengers. Many of them propose eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) models, that is, vehicles capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter, but flying horizontally like an airplane. This positions them as ideal candidates for offering rapid urban and intercity transportation services, especially between cities and airports. But turning that vision into reality is not so simple.
Among this thriving ecosystem of startups and aerospace companies, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, both American, stand out for being, in my opinion, somewhat more advanced on their path to certification.
Joby Aviation, with its aircraft capable of carrying one pilot and four passengers, has already begun testing in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Successful flights have been conducted, and the company has reached strategic agreements with key players in the sector, such as Delta Airlines. Its goal is to offer urban air taxi services in the coming years.
Archer Aviation, for its part, has shown similar progress. Its model, also for five occupants and with eVTOL capability, has already completed several test flights. The company recently published a videohttps://youtu.be/gmz5yjmeZQ8)
showing its aircraft taking off from a runway to test its landing gear. Archer aspires to begin operations at events such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. An ambitious plan, although perhaps overly optimistic.
Despite these advances, all of these companies face two main limitations:
. Battery capacity:
Energy storage technology still doesn't allow for very long ranges without compromising weight and safety. Although significant progress has been made, the balance between range, payload capacity, and reliability remains a key technological barrier. Remember that, unlike a car, an airplane can't "run out of battery" mid-flight.
. The aviation certification process:
The FAA imposes rigorous standards—and rightly so—for any vehicle that aspires to carry passengers. Certification of a new aircraft, even from experienced companies, can take 5 to 10 years. And here we're talking about startups with unprecedented technologies and unconventional designs. The FAA must not only certify that the aircraft can fly, but that it can do so safely, repeatedly, and under a variety of conditions.
That's why, although we see prototypes in the air and optimistic headlines in the media, the path to regular commercial service is far from completely clear.
Many of these companies, being in the early stages of development, rely heavily on funding rounds to survive and advance. This creates significant communication pressure: they must convey positive messages, show steady progress, and convey that market launch is just around the corner.
The problem is that this narrative, necessary to attract investors, can blur public perception. Some announcements are overly enthusiastic, and even within the companies themselves, some believe that commercial launch is closer than regulatory and technological deadlines actually allow. This is a common phenomenon in emerging sectors, and electric aviation is no exception.
A real future... but not immediate
A real future... but not immediate Does this mean that small electric planes are a fantasy? Not at all. The investments, technical advances, and institutional interest are there, and there are legitimate reasons for optimism. Air electrification is a necessary step to reduce emissions, ease ground-based infrastructure, and bring the mobility of the future closer.
But it's also essential to keep our feet on the ground. Aviation safety doesn't allow for shortcuts, and every new advancement must go through a meticulous process of technical and regulatory validation. That takes time. A lot of it.
So, while we're likely to see the first limited commercial service of electric aircraft in the next decade, talking about mass adoption by 2028 or even 2030 is premature, to say the least.
In the meantime, as a popularizer—and as someone who, honestly, would love to fly one of these aircraft someday—I prefer to observe the process with caution, without getting carried away by the marketing, but without detracting from what's being achieved.
We are at the beginning of an aviation revolution. Only, like any serious technological revolution, it proceeds in phases... and we're still in the first phase.
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